My new friend Eric Zimmerman is a naturalist and photographer up in Santa Barbara. He enjoys spending as much time as he can with his marine friends. I’ve never had the chance to photograph marine mammals, so when Eric invited me as a guest on the Condor Express, I jumped at the chance. We lucked out and had a beautiful, sunny day with semi calm waters and lots of animal activity. We saw many large groups of Common Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoises, Harbor Seals, and Sea Lions along the coast of Santa Cruz island. We also followed 3 groups of magnificent Gray whales.
Gray whales are at the tale end of their migration season. They leave Alaskan waters starting in November having built up fat reserves for the 5,000+ mile journey down to Baja California where they mate and bear their young. Their migration route stays within 50 miles of the coast and they normally pass right through the Channel Islands. At one point, the species was hunted to near extinction, but a ban on whale hunting in 1946 and an agreement from the Mexican government to protect the lagoons where they mate, numbers have risen up to approx 26,000. However, intense industrialization along their migration route, military sonar testing, and climate change continue to threaten their survival.
Gray Whale
3 Gray Whales
Gray Whale, Common Dolphins and Western Gulls
Gray Whale Tail
Gray Whale and Common Dolphin
Common Dolphins
Common Dolphins
Gray Whale with Heart Shaped breath
Dall's Porpoise
Common Dolphin
California Sea Lions
Western Gull
Santa Cruz Island
Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island
Eric and Barbara
Captain Bob and Captain Matt
