2009 06-12 SB Channel - Blues & Humpbacks

An overcast day in the Channel, but the whales were abundant. A magnificent and rare mixture of Blues and Humpbacks!

Humpback Whale breach montage - put together in PhotoShop - not all one natural image.
breach montage 2009
Blue Whale tail fluke (Balaenoptera musculus). Note mottled body coloration and tiny dorsal fin.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 channel 104
Smooth, wide head and splashguard of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) as it just begins to spout.
balaenoptera musculus spout head 2009 channel
Blue Whale nostrils and spout (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus spout 2009 channel
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 1 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 182
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 2 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 183
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 3 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 184
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 4 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 185
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 5 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 186
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 6 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 187
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 7 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 188
Humpback Whale breach (Megaptera novaengliae): Image 8 of 8.
megaptera novaengliae breach seq 2009 channel 189
One of many close approaches by friendly Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae passengers 2009 channel
Passenger gets a picture of a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) swimming alongside the Condor Express.
delphinus passenger 2009 channel
The knobby head, bushy spout, and long white pectorals (underwater) of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae head spout 2009 channel
Humpback Whale tail fluke with plenty of spray (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail spray 2009 channel
Humpback tail-lob sequence (Megaptera novaengliae) 1 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae tail throw 2009 channel
Humpback tail-lob sequence (Megaptera novaengliae) 2 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae lob tail splash 2009 channel
Passengers on the Condor Express enjoy a friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) as it begins a deep dive. Note the long, white pectoral fin under the water.
megaptera novaengliae hump passengers 2009 channel
Humpbacks near Santa Cruz Island (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae spout sta cruz 2009 channel
Part of a Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) canopy on the surface of the water.
macrocystis canopy 2009 sta cruz isl 139
Exhaust pipes from a semi-submerged Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) and Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) on the water in back.
megaptera novaengliae spout puffinus griseus 2009 channel
Compare the color pattern on this Humpback Whale tail (Megaptera novaengliae) with the pattern on the next picture.
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Humpbacks are identified by the distinct color patterns as well as scalloping on their tail flukes (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Passengers on the Condor Express get a rare treat as this Humpback Whale shows off its flukes (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke passengers 2009 channel
Waterfall. (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Side view of tail fluke - Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Two Humpbacks (Megaptera novaengliae) very close to the Condor Express passengers: one lobs its tail while the other one spouts.
megaptera novaengliae tail lob spout passengers 2009 channel
A closer look at the tail of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) with its barnacles.
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Standing on it's head, vertical in the water, a Humpback begins to slap its tail on the water (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail throw 2009 channel
Two Humpbacks - a fluke and a dorsal fin (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaenglias cow calf tail hump 2009 channel
Friendly Humpbacks (Megaptera novaengliae) times three, including one underwater, provide a rare close up view for the Condor Express passengers.
megaptera novaengliae three passengers 2009 channel 106
Two very friendly Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae two passengers 2009 channel
Two Humpback Whales, one tail fluke and one spout (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae two tail spout 2009 channel
Megaptera novangliae spout close to passengers 2009 06-12 SB Channel a - 100modCROP
megaptera novangliae spout passengers 2009 channel
Two humps (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliaetwo dorsal fins 2009 channel
Passengers take a peek into the world's longest sea cave: the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island.
painted cave passengers 2009 sta cruz isl 232
The Painted Cave - Santa Cruz Island...one of the most remarkable natural wonders of the Channel Islands.
painted cave 2009 sta cruz isl 220
Tall, straight spout of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus spout 2009 channel

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2009 06-12 SB Channel - Blues & Humpbacks