2009 05-25 Krill & Humpbacks Blues & Dolphins

It was an overcast, grey day in the Channel, with a light-to-moderate wind chop. The Humpbacks were 7 miles south of the Harbor, and the Blue Whale was off the West End of Santa Cruz Island. Lots of Common Dolphins too. On th way back we stopped and put a 0.5mm mesh plankton net over the side to capture a few krill. Fun fun fun.

Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, entertains the passengers.
delphinus capensis passengers condor express 2009 channel
A leaping Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis.
delphinus capensis leaping 2009 channel
Image 1 of 2: Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, mating (top pair).
delphinus capensis mating 2009 channel
Image 2 of 2: Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, mating (top pair).
delphinus capensis mating 2009 channel
Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata.
balaenoptera acutorostrata 2009 channel 009
Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaengliae, tail fluke.
megaptera novangliae tail 2009 channel
Image 1 of 3: Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaengliae, tail throwing sequence.
megaptera novangliae tail throw oil platform 2009 channel
Image 2 of 3: Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaengliae, tail throwing sequence.
megaptera novangliae tail throw oil platform 2009 channel
Image 3 of 3: Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaengliae, tail throwing sequence.
megaptera novangliae tail throw oil platform 2009 channel
Megaptera novangliae & Delphinus capensis 2009 05-25 SB Channel a - 027
megaptera novangliae delphinus capensis 2009 channel 027
Krill - eyeball - close up
Microscopic view of the eyeball and thoracic appendages of a krill, Thysanoessa spinifera.
thysanoessa spiculata krill microscopic 2009 005
Thysanoessa spinifera
There are 3 species of krill in the north Pacific, two of them are food for Blue Whales. This one is Thysanoessa spiculata, and is far more likely to be consumed by a whale since they flourish nearer to the shore...such as the Santa Barbara Channel. Captured by my plankton net off the back of the Condor Express.
thysanoessa spiculata krill closeups 2009 channel 003
One whole krill, Thysanoessa spinifera, with metric ruler for sizing purposes.
thysanoessa spiculata krill closeups 2009 channel
California sea lion was rafting peacefully until the boat came by....Zalophus californianus.
zalophus californianus pup 2009 channel
Tail fluke of a Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, as it begins a deep dive in search of krill. The birds above the whale are Sooty Shearwaters, Puffinus griseus.
balaenoptera musculus tail puffinus griseus 2009 channel
Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) captured in my plankton net, swimming around in a glass tray of seawater.
thysanoessa spinifera many glass dish 2009 channel

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2009 05-25 Krill & Humpbacks Blues & Dolphins