[CINC] Condor, Friday, 24 june, '11

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

Data:

Jellies
Mola Mola, small group

9+ Humpbacks
5+ Blues
8 Orca (including one calf)

Brian in the cabin, and I on the upper deck, we gave our intro presentation to the 56 intrepid whale watchers.

We left Santa Barbara Harbor with the usual stop at the outer buoy to enjoy the California Sea Lions, seemingly resident there. On into the mist, of our beautiful fog/low cloud June day, off to seek another day like yesterday. Of course no day on the Channel is the same and this one was its own day as well.

Shortly some Jellies were spotted as well as a few Mola Molas (I did not see them but several others did, same with the Jellies)

We were out past the shipping lanes heading toward the shelf off of Santa Rosa Island. Captain Mat decided to stop for some reason, and up popped the Orca pod. The captain was as surprised as any of us. It was not the reason he stopped. Whatever it was it was totally lost in the joy and excitement of seeing these beautiful animals. At first they were in two groups on each side of us, then they merged for a good time and parting again. The calf was easily seen, tracking with presumably its mother.

They were moving slowly so we hung with them for some time, eventually parting toward our original destination.
Good thing as it was not too long that we cam upon our first Humpback, a loner, which after a bit became two.  It was not a great fluking day. Seems the Humpbacks had the Blues, this day, on fluking.  

Then we came on another and another with some in the distance. But no fluking.

AH ha!! Our first Blue, then two. Folks were in awe, yes, ... they are that big. More Humpbacks showed and soon more Blues. The numbers were less than Thursdays sitings, but a very fine day of it just the same. Tracking a couple more Humpbacks, one of them became very generous and gave us one nice fluke.

No Blues fluked on this run but it was a great day of it, with the Orca show the star attraction, for sure.

Yes, overcast for most of the day with sun breaking out later as the winds picked up in the west end and the sea followed. So it was time to head back, ... from, still, a very beautiful day on the cannel.

Finally, Captain Mat, made it official, announced it was time to head home, fired up the engines, and up popped a juvenile Humpback right next to the boat, slowly moving on, ... guess it was wishing us well as we departed and headed home.

Capt. Mat, Capt. Dave, and Matt in the galley did their usual fine job of finding the whales and taking care of the folks.

Shirley Johnson on PID, Brian Resnik and I chatted it up with the folks from UK, Chile, Mn, Chicago, Camarillo, and one couple traveled in all the way from Santa Barbara to the Condor.

Ken Tatro