2009 04-07 SB Channel Condor Express HUMPBACK WHALE MEGA DAY 1

The morning trip was sunny and we had 2 Humpback Whales "mug" the boat. They circled around, and under, for about an hour. The afternoon trip was cloudy and then we had light rain. But we saw the same two Humpbacks further to the west. This time they lobbed their tails and slapped their pectoral fins and breached. What a day!

Ghostly image as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) descends underneath the boat upside down, exposing the white undersides of its pectoral fins and belly.
megaptera novaengliae upside alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0514
Part 2 of 2: Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in blue water.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0276
Passengers get to see two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) as they pass under the bow of the boat and come to the surface.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0131
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) relaxing at the surface, belly-up, with long pectoral fins out wide, ready to slap the water.
megaptera novaengliae pectorals 2009 channel
Passengers get to witness a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) slapping its pectoral fin close to the boat.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express 2009 channel
Part 1 of 2: Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in blue water.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0274
Passengers see a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) raise its pectoral fin for a big slap on the water.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express 2009 channel
Belly-up so you can see the ventral grooves, a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) slams its long pectoral fin on the water.
megaptera novaengliae belly pectoral slap 2009 channel
A woman takes a picture of a diving Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae)...long white pectoral fin is visible under the water.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel
A complete, 45-foot Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) is visible right next to the boat as it begins to dive.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0157
A friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) come up to the boat and spouts.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0118
Megaptera novaengliae CLOSE alongside Condor Express GOOD 2009 04-07 SB Channel - 0390
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0390
This is what we call "being mugged" by a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0314
Still completely under water, a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) emerges from the deep.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0332
Here's a lucky guy who picked the right day to do a little whale photography. A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) makes a friendly approach to the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0365
Photographers delight at the close proximity of this friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0235
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) comes up from direcly beneath the boat and gives the passengers a little whale breath to enjoy. Very fragrant stuff, eh wot!
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0240
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) seen making a right turn underwater.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0203
Another diving Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) in blue water.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0189
Passenger with camera takes a close shot at a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) on the bow of the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0209
Passengers get a close look at a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) tail fluke.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0449
Okay, so sometimes you get lucky. There I was looking out into the blue ocean when this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) comes out from under the boat to get its picture taken. Here it is seen completely under the water, ready to pop its head up and breathe.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0430
Hold those cameras up, there goes another Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) on the bow of the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0559
This is my favorite of the batch. I hope you like it too. A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) emerges from its leisurely swim under the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0497
Cameras, fire! A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) hams it up in front of the all the lenses.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0469
Ka-Boom! A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) lets loose with a big pectoral fin slap.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0682
Image 1 of 2: Here's a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) on its back, belly-up, ready to lower the boom. Notice the ventral pleats and orange patches of ectoparasitic barnacles.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0717
Image 2 of 2: a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) drops the big hammer.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0720
Tail of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) , up close and personal.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express good tail 2009 channel
Another 2-shot sequence: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) comes out of the blue and is ready to spout and take a breath. Image 1 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae head body good 2009 channel
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) tail - a wide glider.
megaptera novangliae tail 2009 channel
Another 2-shot sequence: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) comes out of the blue and spouts before taking a breath. Image 2 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae head spout pectoral blue water good 2009 channel
Right lateral aspect of a spouting Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novaengliae spout whole body visible good 2009 channel
Close up view of the dual exhaust system of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novaengliae head spout alongside condor express good 2009 channel
Profile of a 45-foot Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) coming up for air.
megaptera novaengliae entire body spout alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0154
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) lies on its right side, as it rolls to a belly-up position and slaps its huge pectoral fin.
megaptera novaengliae left side pectoral air 2009 channel
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) head with only the spashguard and spout ready to pop through the surface layer.
megaptera novaengliae head 2009 channel
Up comes the big pectoral fin of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) engaged in fin slapping fun.
megaptera novaengliae pectoral slap seq alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0677
Another one of my personal favorites.
megaptera novaengliae head shot alongside condor express good 2009 channel
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae), one up and spouting, the other just went down.
megaptera novaengliae spout alongside condor express good 2009 channel
Megaptera novaengliae tail & passengers CLOSE alongside Condor Express GOOD 2009 04-07 SB Channel - 0575
megaptera novaengliae tail passengers alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0575
Complete Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) shower - including a rainbow.
megaptera novaengliae rainbow spout spray alongside condor express good 2009 channel 0177
Close look at the tail fluke of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke alongside condor express good 2009 channel
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) lobs its tail, slamming it down on the water repeatedly. Whumpffff!
megaptera novangliae tail throw 2009 channel
Curious California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) on the Harbor Buoy, Santa Barbara.
zalophus californianus buoy 2009 harbor 0014
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) tail fluke.
megaptera novangliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Ghost Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae), dives deep as the photographer captures the action.
megaptera novaengliae upside alongside condor express beezer good 2009 channel 0516
Another Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) passed under the boat as it made its ascent.
megaptera novaengliae alongside condor express beezer good 2009 channel 0534

Please click on the image above to be transported to my NATURAL PHOTOGRAPHICS stock images website.

2009 04-07 SB Channel Condor Express HUMPBACK WHALE MEGA DAY 1