Whale Huggers (like me),
A sunny day with calm seas and here is what we watched closely today:
7 Blue whales (a couple fluked up)
5 Humpback Whales, friendly approaches,
400 Common Dolphins
We have had quite a few days with dense populations on the grounds. Who knows what the future may bring. Suggestion: sign up now and get in on all the action while it lasts. The Audubon Society has a deep water pelagic bird trip tomorrow (Saturday) and then Sunday we're back on teh regular whaling schedule.
Call 888-77WHALE or 805-882-0088 to book your trip.
Visit our NEW website:
http://www.CondorCruises.com
...or to view images from previous trips:
http://www.condorexpressphotos.com
In addition to the expert crew on the Condor Express with over 35 years of experience, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps volunteer naturalists, representatives from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park, are usually on board and available to answer your questions during the trip.
Best fishes and have a WHALE of a day!
Bob Perry
Condor Express
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Deep Water Pelagic Trip 7/23/11
Colleagues,
Yesterday the Condor Express ran one its 14-hour deep water pelagic bird trips co-sponsored by LA Audubon. We were blessed with extremely calm seas which made the circuitous trip out to the San Juan Seamount (100 miles out from Santa Barbara) both pleasant and productive. The most productive spot was along the 100 fm curve west of Richardson Rock. I'll post up the images of the day to www.CondorExpressPhotos.com no later than Monday afternoon.
5 Humpbacks (surface lunge feeding)
2 Blues (also feeding on surface)
8 Fin Whales
1 Sei Whale (ID still pending review - a few fleeting looks)
100+ Risso's Dolphins (covering many acres along north face of San Miguel)
30 Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (in 3 groups)
260 Short Beaked Common Dolphins (several groups, one mixed with Lags)
50 Long Beaked Common Dolphins (mostly in the Channel)
11 Dall's Porpoise
2 Northern Fur Seals
12 Guadalupe Fur Seals
2 Elephant Seals
several large Mola mola
highlights of the bird sightings:
Red Billed Tropic Bird
Laysan's Albatross
Manx Shearwater
and numerous great looks at
Fulmars
Black Footed Albatross
S. Polar Skua
Leach's Storm Petrel
Black Storm Petrel
Pink Footed, Black Vented and Sooty Shearwaters
Xantus's
Cassin's
Pigeon Guillemots
very curious sightings:
hundreds of very young Heermann's Gulls 100 miles offshore !
best fishes and have a WHALE of a day
Bob Perry
Condor Express
Yesterday the Condor Express ran one its 14-hour deep water pelagic bird trips co-sponsored by LA Audubon. We were blessed with extremely calm seas which made the circuitous trip out to the San Juan Seamount (100 miles out from Santa Barbara) both pleasant and productive. The most productive spot was along the 100 fm curve west of Richardson Rock. I'll post up the images of the day to www.CondorExpressPhotos.com no later than Monday afternoon.
5 Humpbacks (surface lunge feeding)
2 Blues (also feeding on surface)
8 Fin Whales
1 Sei Whale (ID still pending review - a few fleeting looks)
100+ Risso's Dolphins (covering many acres along north face of San Miguel)
30 Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (in 3 groups)
260 Short Beaked Common Dolphins (several groups, one mixed with Lags)
50 Long Beaked Common Dolphins (mostly in the Channel)
11 Dall's Porpoise
2 Northern Fur Seals
12 Guadalupe Fur Seals
2 Elephant Seals
several large Mola mola
highlights of the bird sightings:
Red Billed Tropic Bird
Laysan's Albatross
Manx Shearwater
and numerous great looks at
Fulmars
Black Footed Albatross
S. Polar Skua
Leach's Storm Petrel
Black Storm Petrel
Pink Footed, Black Vented and Sooty Shearwaters
Xantus's
Cassin's
Pigeon Guillemots
very curious sightings:
hundreds of very young Heermann's Gulls 100 miles offshore !
best fishes and have a WHALE of a day
Bob Perry
Condor Express
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