It might be the start of the gray whale season, but the “other” gray whales – the playful humpbacks – have been stealing the spotlight on the sea.
Humpbacks have been hanging off the Southern California coast in big numbers for the past month, making a pit stop to snack off the South Bay through Orange County and down to San Diego during their migration south to warmer waters.
And it seems they are in no rush to leave.
Humpbacks are less predictable and reliable than the gray whales, known for their annual migration passing by Southern California en route from feeding grounds in Alaska to breeding grounds in Baja’s warm water lagoons.
“Although the gray whales are just trickling through – the first ones – there’s a lot of life to see on the ocean and it’s a really good time to go whale watching,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, director of the American Cetacean Society/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, based at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Palos Verdes.
Joining the buffet of wildlife in recent weeks have been fin whales, the second largest whale species, minke whales and Risso’s dolphins, which feed on squid, she said.
But it’s the humpback whales, which spend summers off Central and Northern California and nurse and breed in Mexico and Central America, that are making a splash – literally. The species is known for its big breaches, lunge feeding and curious behavior that can bring them within feet of whale watching boats.
Humpbacks started showing in big numbers off Southern California in September, stuck around in October and have continued hanging out through November.
One day earlier this month, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching charters reported 19 encounters. This week, nine humpback whale sightings were logged during several trips on Sunday, Monday and again Tuesday.
“I’ve been asking people if they’ve ever seen so much whale activity. I don’t think we’ve seen this many humpbacks,…
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