2022 09-30 SB Channel

A high stratus layer burned off within an hour and the rest of the day was sunny. Seas were relatively calm and an occasional light breeze wafted across the Channel. Sightings continue to be phenomenal: 17++ humpback whales, 4000 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 California sea lions.

As it has been for a while now, the first dolphin pods located us about 5 miles out from the harbor.

Continue reading Good conditions with fantastic humpback and dolphin sightings…again! at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-27 SB Channel

Near zero visibility dense fog shrouded the ocean’s secrets for an hour and then the blue skies and bright sun continued today, the seas were a bit bumpy and the winds were brisk out near the mid-Channel. Sightings, considering the fog, were fantastic again: 13+ humpback whales, 3000 long-beaked common dolphins and 300 California sea lions.

Dolphins were everywhere that we traveled, starting about 5 miles off Hope Ranch.

Continue reading Fog at first, then humpback and dolphin masses! at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-27 SB Channel

Although the blue skies and bright sun continued today, the seas were a bit bumpy and the winds were brisk out near the mid-Channel. Sightings were probably record-breaking again: 22+ humpback whales, 3500 long-beaked common dolphins and 400 California sea lions.

Captain Dave and the crew took the Condor Express due south and encountered many small pods of dolphins along the way. As we got offshore 5 or 6 miles, second Captain, deckhand and supreme whale spotter, Devin, saw breaching several miles ahead.

Continue reading Another record-breaking humpback whale-o-rama! at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-27 SB Channel

Chop, wind, sunny skies prevailed again near The Buoy, as did most of the anchovy-fueled hot spots. Inestimable numbers of whales and dolphins were seen and we did our best to put together accurate counts: 15+ humpback whales, 8000 long-beaked common dolphins and 300 California sea lions.

On the hot spot the megapods of dolphins attracted the attention of more than a dozen whales…all the wildlife, including birds and sea lions, were feeding shallow on the northern anchovy schools.

Continue reading Monster hot spot full of cetaceans continues again today. at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-26 SB Channel

Captain Devin and the crew reported sunny skies (again) with a little bit of chop. The winds kicked up out past the NOAA East Channel Buoy, where all the action was today. Sightings included 4+ humpback whales, 1 Minke whale and 5000 long-beaked common dolphins.

Just a mile south of the harbor we had a nice encounter with a semi-friendly Minke whale. We stayed for two surface intervals, the first with 6 breaths, the second 3.

Continue reading More than 4 humpbacks, two of which mugged us…and lots more. at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-25 SB Channel

Sunny skies and light winds until…we reached mid-Channel…then things freshened up a bit. Sightings were phenomenal again today with 20+ humpback whales and 5000+ long-beaked common dolphins, a probable record for the whales this summer/fall season.

Once again, as you read in yesterday’s report, it was nearly impossible to accurately count the exact number of whales we closely watched, and, on top of that, there were lots more in the area.

Continue reading 20+ humpbacks and 5000+ dolphins. Many got active when the wind kicked-up! at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-24 SB Channel

Skies were blue and sunny again. However, we had a moderate breeze with some light chop all day. The wind helped dramatize the whale spouts, breaches and tail slaps. Sightings were phenomenal owing to the continued large masses of northern anchovies in The Channel. We closely watched so many humpback whales that Captain Dave left the number at 15, with lots more in the area. Additionally, 2500 long-beaked common dolphins were feeding on the same anchovy schools.

Continue reading More than 15 humpback whales active on the anchovy hot spots at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-23 SB Channel

It was another “Bluebird” Day in our neck of the Channel with sunny, blue skies, flat, calm seas, and no wind. Wildlife observations were the best we’ve had for a few weeks, in terms of raw numbers: 5000+ long-beaked common dolphins, 12+ humpback whales, and 30 California sea lions. (FTI sea lion counts include rafts and mobs only, not solo or paired and isolated animals).

Common dolphins were around the boat in substantial numbers all day except the last 30 min as we approached Santa Barbara Landing.

Continue reading More than a dozen humpbacks and many thousands of dolphins at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-22 SB Channel

There was a warm breeze over the extremely calm Santa Barbara Channel, just enough to keep everyone comfortable. Sightings were more than comfy: 5+ humpback whales and 3500 long-beaked common dolphins.

About 7 mile south of Goleta Bay we watched a single humpback feeding while joined by nearly 1000 dolphins. The whale was “all business,” and seemed to be hungry…judging by its focused behavior. During this encounter we could see numerous spouts in the distance, and we headed further south in pursuit.

Continue reading Humpbacks lunge feed and mug the Condor Express at Condor Express Whale Watching.

2022 09-21 SB Channel

Blue skies and calm seas for the first half of the expedition, then, as we turned to head home, the winds kicked-up a notch. Sightings were great: 4+ humpback whales, 4000 long-beaked common dolphins, and 400 short-beaked common dolphins.

About 6 miles south of the harbor we found a single whale feeding alongside several hundred long-beaks. The water remains clear enough for great looks at the enormous northern anchovy schools (see example in today’s photo).

Continue reading Great day as we beat the wind and found a mother lode of anchovies that was a wildlife magnet at Condor Express Whale Watching.