2009 05-30 SB Channel ACS All Day Trip

Overcast skys all day, light chop on the water, but no swell. This all-day American Cetacean Society trip took us over to Santa Cruz and waters adjacent to Santa Rosa, with plenty of stops in the Channel for wildlife.

A mighty lob-tail from a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae lob tail 2009 channel
Close look at the spout of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus low profile spout 2009 channel
The bait barge inside Santa Barbara Harbor is closed....but don't tell the Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis).
bait barge loaded pelecanus occidentalis 2009 harbor
Here we see an unusual "racing" behavior of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) which is similar to a breach, but the whale does not get fully airborn. Inside the big whale there is a Risso's Dolphin traveling alongside (Grampus griseus).
balaenoptera musculus racing grampus griseus 2009 channel
The low, sleek profile of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus low profile spout 2009 channel
More "racing" by a Blue Whale, with a big, tall spout (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus tall spout 2009 channel
Two frisky Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) keep pace with the Condor Express.
delphinus capensis two 2009 channel
Passengers get out their cameras for some close Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis passengers 2009 channel
Common Dolphin puts on a show for passengers on the Condor Express (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis passengers 2009 channel
Our second Horned Puffin in 8 days on the Condor Express. This one is a juvenile. (Fratercula corniculata).
fratercula corniculata juv sitting water 2009 channel
A close examination of the spash guard, blow holes, and tuberculated head of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaegliae spout splashguard 2009 channel
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) eyeballs the Condor Express. Note the nice, clear, blue water.
mola 2009 channel
Image 1 of 2: Humpback Whale tail-throw sequence with Santa Cruz Island in back. (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaegliae tail throw sta cruz isl 2009 channel
Image 2 of 2: Humpback Whale tail-throw sequence with Santa Cruz Island in back. (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaegliae tail throw sta cruz isl 2009 channel
Humpback Whales - a cow and her calf (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae cow calf 2009 channel
Sequence shots: 1 of 3: Not more than 15 minutes from the Harbor, and we had a very close approach by this very friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae approach 2009 channel
Sequence shots: 2 of 3: Not more than 15 minutes from the Harbor, and we had a very close approach by this very friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae approach 2009 channel
Sequence shots: 3 of 3: Not more than 15 minutes from the Harbor, and we had a very close approach by this very friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae approach 2009 channel
Wide-angle view of a juvenile Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) lob-tailing near Santa Cruz Island.
megaptera novaengliae lob tail sta cruz isl 2009 channel
Volcanic eruption: close look at the spout of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae spout 2009 channel
Lots of lob-tailing and tail-throwing by this cow-calf pair of Humpbacks (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail throw 2009 channel
A big tail fluke just begins to lift out of the water as a Humpback Whale takes off on a deep dive (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail 2009 channel
Even more tail-throwing by this cow-calf pair of Humpbacks (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail throw 2009 channel
Tail-throw by a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail throw 2009 channel
Neck-stretching by a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) on the Sandspit, Santa Barbara Harbor.
pelecanus occidentalis sandspit neck stretch 2009 harbor
A bright orange ochre star (Pisaster ochraceus) clings the the rock wall in the entrance to the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island. Green aggregating sea anemonies (Anthopleura elegantissima), various types of intertidal red algae, and a Purple Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) can also be seen in the neighborhood.
pisaster ochraceus painted cave 2009 sta cruz island
Bottlenose Dolphin just outside the Harbor (Tursiops truncatus).
tursiops truncatus 2009 channel 121
Four Black Skimmers cross the bow of the Condor Express (Rynchops niger).
rynchops niger four 2009 channel 011
A Sooty Shearwater "walks on the water" during take-off (Puffinus griseus).
puffinus griseus 2009 channel
The world's longest sea cave, the Painted Cave, on Santa Cruz Island.
painted cave 2009 sta cruz isl
Bottlenose dolphins mating (Tursiops truncatus).
tursiops truncatus two mating seq 2009 channel
Group mating behavior - Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
tursiops truncatus orgy 2009 channel
The dive boat "Vision" from the Sea Landing in Santa Barbara.
vessel dive boat vision 2009 channel
Alyssa's cold hamburger...tells all you need to know about how many great sightings we had this day.
alyssa burger got cold 2009 channel 269
Juvenile behavior - a young Humpback shows off (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae full breach 2009 channel

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2009 05-30 SB Channel ACS All Day Trip