Feeding frenzy fun to be had by all!
We had the most gorgeous San Diego weather today leaving Mission Bay for the afternoon departure of the Inspiration. Heading southwest to the drop off all was pretty quiet, a few red throated phalaropes and the odd pelicans lead us to the motherload of bird piles! Thousands of pelicans and gulls diving and splashing feeding on shoals of bait fish. But the weren’t alone out there, cooperatively feeding in the area was dolphins scattered in all directions! In total well over 1000~ long beaked common dolphins (Megapod!!) joined in the feeding frenzy! The visibility in and out of the water was incredibly clear so watching them surf and bowride along with us was a real treat.
Our goal for the sunset whale watch today was to get back to the action in the same area as the afternoon trip, and that motivation really paid off! Catching up early in the trip with 200~ long beaked common dolphins showing off their finest hunting skills bursting through the mild swell.
Waving bye to those dolphins and catching up to the drop off again, the action kept going! The birds on the horizon were so thick they looked like a swarm, it was a unique perspective watching bird piles dissipate and form in the different feeding areas as the fish moved around. Our megapod of long beaked dolphin pals from the previous trip were still hungry for adventure and fish and continuously surfed along side the Inspiration for almost the entire time of the trip! Dolphin escorts are the best!
We got even luckier as sunset approached with a feeding humpback whale! This curious humpback was taking short dives and following the food around but we got some good looks before it changed direction. Heading more to the north.
We rounded out the almost perfect trip with a green flash on the sunset!
Pure San Diego magic.
We have space available on trips every day this week AND calm seas, clear skies. It’s the perfect recipe for fun.
-Naturalist Ruth
