Month: April 2015

04-20-15: Orca Pod on Gray Whale Kill, Humpbacks and Sea Lions in Feeding Frenzy just oustide of Moss Landing

Moss Landing Killer Whales
This group of about 4-5 killer whales had recently killed a gray whale calf. By the time we got on the scene, they were in feeding mode. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuaryruises.com 04-20-2015.

Incredible sightings today. It looks like the orcas are starting to come around regularly now. Early on into the trip we heard reports of orcas on a gray whale calf kill about 3-4 miles from the Moss Landing Harbor. So as soon as we left the harbor we knew we were in for a good trip. I set a course for the location of the killer whale action and bumped up the RPMs.

Check out this humpback whale feeding frenzy video.

Moss Landing Killer Whales
This young orca was continually tail slapping. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-20-2015.

We didn’t get more than a mile or two before we started coming across the mighty blows of the humpback whale.

Moss Landing Killer Whales
These orcas kept taking bites out of this whale just below the water surface. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-20-2015.

We stopped for a bit and had some nice looks at a few humpbacks. But we soon continued on the killer whale action.

On the way in we found ten humpback whales in a massive feeding frenzy along with hundreds of sea lions. Quite impressive. The last two days we have had great humpback displays within a mile of Moss with breaching, pec slapping and tail lobbing. Then there are the hundreds of Long Beaked Common dolphins feeding within a few miles of Moss daily. Did we mention the four blue whales that have been in the bay for four days straight feeding? It’s good out there now.

04-16-15: Orcas on the Hunt, Blue Whales, Humpbacks and More

Moss Landing Killer Whales
Female killer whale on the hunt. It was over moments later. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com

Check out some of the video we shot. Amazing out there today – as we exited the harbor mouth a lone humpback whale greeted us with a breach. This was a good sign.

Moss Landing Killer Whales
This was a group of female with a young calf. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com

Ten more minutes and we were with a pod of Orcas on the prowl. We were treated to multiple breaches by the youngest whale in the clan.

Moss Landing Killer Whales
This young calf repeatedly breached. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com. 04-16-2015

We were patient, waiting our turn to view them closer and letting the Monterey whale boats leave the scene. As soon as we were alone with the pod, they came right up to the boat and circled us within a few feet! It gets better. Up pops a large harbor seal and it swims right to our boat, hugging the side for protection.

Moss Landing Killer Whales
On the prowl. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com. 04-16-2015

The orcas were swarming and the seal along with the Sanctuary were the center of their attentions. This dramatic predator prey interaction played out as expected. The harbor seal became lunch for the Orcas and our passengers had the wildlife observation experience of a lifetime!

Blue Whale Just Outside of Moss Landing
There have been a few blue whales hanging out a few miles northwest of Moss Landing. Photo: MIchael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com. 04-16-2015

It’s hard to beat a good Orca event like this, but the show was not over. We ventured out further and found several huge blue whales inside the bay.

Blue Whale Just Outside of Moss Landing
The krill was shallow. This made for good blue whale watching as they were not going as deep and staying nicely. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com. 04-16-2015.

All aboard got many good looks at them as they turned and came towards Sanctuary. It was awesome! To top it all off, we had black footed albatrosses soaring around them. It was a good day.

 

04-14-2015: More Humpbacks Showing Up, Common Dolphins, Risso’s and More

Moss Landing Humpback Whale
This friendly humpback slowly eased up to the boat and popped his head up out of the water to get a better look. This is what we call spy-hopping. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com. 04-04-2014.

The Monterey Bay marine life action is just starting to kick into high gear. We’ve been having 20-25 knot plus northwesterly winds in the afternoons and sunshine all day long. This creates what we call upwelling.

Moss Landing Humpback Whale
This was an incredible friendly encounter. These whales stayed with us, going back and forth under the boat. Checking us out. Amazing. Photo: Michael Sack, www.sanctuarycruises.com 04-04-2015.

Upwelling is when the cooler, nutrient rich waters from the deeper waters (particularly along the ledges the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon) reach the sun exposed upper stratus of the water column. Then, through photo-synthesis, we have these massive phytoplankton blooms. That’s what the krill eat. And of course, the humpbacks and blue whales feed on the krill.

Moss Landing Sea Lion
It’s all about the feast. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-13-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com
Moss Landing Humpback Whale
They just kept coming up and going down all around the boat. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-04-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com

Hopefully we’ll start seeing more surface krill blooms. We’ve already seen some scattered swarms. But not in big numbers.

Moss Landing Humpback Whale
Here they come again. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-04-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com

As we get closer to June we should start to see more blue whales coming into The Bay as well. But for now, we’ve been seeing close in long-beaked common dolphins on every trip.

Moss Landing Common Dolphin
The common dolphins have been awesome this year. We’ve been seeing them on every trip. Usually just outside the Moss Landing Harbor. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-04-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com

They’ve pretty much been hanging out feeding just outside of the harbor. We’ve also had feeding humpback whales just outside the Moss Landing Harbor. We haven’t had the kind of all day lunge-feeding we had a couple of days in March. But we have had some good breaching action and friendly behavior as well as the occasional surface lunge.

Black-footed Albatross
We haven’t seen a lot of black-footed albatross yet this year. Here is one of them. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-03-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com

It’s also getting to be that time of year where we should start to see more orcas coming through.

Moss Landing Orcas
We hope to start seeing more orcas as the gray whale mothers and calves make their way to their feeding grounds in the Arctic Sea. Just outside of Moss Landing is a favored orca/gray whale ambush zone. Photo: Michael Sack, 04-02-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com
Moss Landing Sea Lion
Survival of the fittest. Here’s one sea lion who seems to be eating well. At least for today. Photo: MIchael Sack, 04-09-2015, www.sanctuarycruises.com

In fact, I’m thinking of doing some early morning orca scouting trips for people who can’t get enough. Here’s the deal, if you are already going out on one of our other trips that day, we’ll throw in the 3-hour+ dawn-patrol orca scouting trip for $10.00 more. Likely smaller groups on these dawn patrol trips. We’re going to do them periodically but try and do them every Thursday and Friday. Email me at crew@sanctuarycruises.com if you’re interested.

04-08-2015 Active Humpbacks and Common Dolphins that won’t quit

The bay right outside Moss Landing was wild with marine life today! After watching a tight group of five humpbacks feeding within a mile of Moss and spending multiple bouts with hundreds of Long Beaked Common Dolphins milling about the boat, Dorris spotted a breacher to the west. Out we went and it sure was worth it! A few miles out we had a pair of very active humpbacks that breached, tail lobbed and pec slapped for a very long time. The five breaches near the boat for all to see was the big prize for today’s passengers! We are adding two hour trips at 2:30 now – so come on aboard!