2009 02-21 Condor Express Grays & Humpies

Tail of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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A female common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) comes up for air. The bright object below this dolphin is a male who is ready to have high speed intercourse.

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Abstraction 1.

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Three common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) ride a silvery wave.

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Tail of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)...part 1 of 2.

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Tail of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)...part 2 of 2.

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A squadron of common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) breaks away from the armada to visit the Condor Express.

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Abstraction 2.

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Two common dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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Four wave-riding common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) One turns its head to look up, and the female dolphin at the top has a male underneath her.

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Leaping common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).

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Ribbon kelp, aka boa kelp, (Egregia) has become dislodged from the shallow sea floor and now drifts on the open ocean

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Northbound Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) passes by oil platform Holly in the Santa Barbara Channel.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spout.

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Two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus), one on the surface, one diving.

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A chubby Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) rests on the edge of the bait barge inside Santa Barbara Harbor.

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Two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in the Santa Barbara Channel; the West End of Santa Cruz Island can be seen in the background.

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Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) one spout, one tail.

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Two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) near oil platform Holly in the Santa Barbara Channel.

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Two spouting Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) side by side.

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Only the nostrils or blowholes of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) can be seen above the ocean surface. Note the sheen on the water and its patterns as this whale begins to surface and breathe.

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) head with lips and dorsal tubercles visble above the water line.

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Winter in the Santa Barbara Channel. A view of the Goleta coast.

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) they don't call them "humpbacks" for nothing.

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Head and blowholes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae)

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Humpback Whale (Megapter novaengliae) on glassy water.

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Side view of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) spouting above glassy seas.

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A tail fluke comes up from a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) as it leans to its right side and dives.

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Alien sea monster? No. We're looking directly at the wide tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) as it begins to raise its tail for a dive.

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Sunlight reflects off the shiny tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megapter novaengliae).

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Image 1 of 2 A speeding bullet Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) exhales and inhales "on the go" as it pops through the surface for only a few milliseconds.

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Image 2 of 2: A speeding Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) creates its signature "rooster tail."

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A couple of logs adrift in the channel? It's actually two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaengliae) moving so slowly at the surface the behavior is called "logging."

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) spouting with only its nostrils (blowholes) above the water. The white pectoral left "wing" shines bright blue toward the right edge of the photo. [Wide view].

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) spouting with only its nostrils (blowholes) above the water. The white pectoral left "wing" shines bright blue toward the right edge of the photo. [Detailed view].

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) lets loose with a blow while still submerged. Image 1 of 2.

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) lets loose with a blow while still submerged. Image 2 of 2. Dorsal fin is now up, and bright blue pectoral fins can be seen below the surface.

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Humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) sinks beneath the oily glass surface.

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A tale of two tails: Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaengliae) dive in unison.

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Another sea monster or alien from another planet? A Brandts Cormorant (Phalcrocorax penicillatus) dives below the surface hunting for a meal.

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Brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) resting on the beach in Santa Barbara Harbor.

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Brown pelicans swim on a glassy ocean. (Pelecanus occidentalis),

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Humpback Whale off the coast of Goleta (Megaptera novaengliae); this whale was so close to the beach that Dr. Michael Smith up on Coal Oil Point could see them as he was conducting his annual census of the northbound Gray Whales.

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Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in breeding colors, perches on a dock side cleat and preens.

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A small raft of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) are always a barrel of laughs.

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vessel seiner Pieface Sta Cruz Isl in back 2009 02-21 SB Channel - 323modCROP

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Abstraction 3

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