condorexpressphotos  > Other > 2009 08-21 SB Channel
A breezy day full of Blue Whales and some lunge feeding too. Wild!
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condorexpressphotos > This is "The Bump," a swath of red colored Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) leaping out of the water to save their lives from the attack of this lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).  The tip of the right pectoral fin is just poking out of the ocean to the right.
condorexpressphotos > A close look at the ocean which has turned red from the presence of millions of Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) on the surface.  These krill are keystone species in the ocean food chain and provide a direct food link from the abundant microscopic photosynthetic diatoms they consume to the larger predators such as whales, squid, jellies and seabirds.
condorexpressphotos > A lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).  The beast is upside down with ventral pleats exposed.  Krill can be seen popping out of the water just ahead of the mouth as tiny red dots on the surface.
condorexpressphotos > A lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) accompanied by two Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus).   The left pectoral fin is just breaking the water to the right, and krill can be seen around the mouth to the left.  Water streams off the ventral pleats as the whale takes a full gulp.
condorexpressphotos > Millions of tiny red krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) can be seen popping out of the water in their attempt to evade consumption by this lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).   Also note the vast expanse of ventral pleats on this upside down whale.
condorexpressphotos > A lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)...lots of krill visible.
condorexpressphotos > The dorsal fin of a behemoth Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) showing two small stalked barnacles dangling from the tip.
condorexpressphotos > Profile of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) cutting through a flock of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) that are feeding on the same food item: krill.
condorexpressphotos > Two giants, a cow and her calf...Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus).
This is "The Bump," a swath of red colored Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) leaping out of the water to save their lives from the attack of this lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus). The tip of the right pectoral fin is just poking out of the ocean to the right.
 > This is "The Bump," a swath of red colored Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) leaping out of the water to save their lives from the attack of this lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).  The tip of the right pectoral fin is just poking out of the ocean to the right.
This is "The Bump," a swath of red colored Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) leaping out of the water to save their lives from the attack of this lunge-feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus). The tip of the right pectoral fin is just poking out of the ocean to the right.
Camera: Nikon Corporation (Nikon D3x) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 2792px x 1770px |
Current: 400px x 254px |
Other sizes: Small • M • L • O |
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Keywords: feeding channel pop lunge krill 2009 002 balaenoptera musculus
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