2009 07-03 SB Channel

A Humpback Whale mugs the Condor Express, plus Blue Whales, Common Dolphins, Sea Lions and Pigeon Guillemots. Another tremendous day with marine activity everywhere you looked.

Image 1 of 2: A young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) came up alongside the Condor Express and did a mighty tail lob for us.
megaptera novaengliae tail lob whole animal 2009 channel
Image 2 of 2: A young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) came up alongside the Condor Express and did a mighty tail lob for us.
megaptera novaengliae tail lob whole animal 2009 channel
Whalers aboard the Condor Express have an encounter with a very friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) that insisted on swimming all around the boat for about an hour. Wow!
megaptera novaengliae passengers 2009 channel
Head of Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) with spout. Image 2 of 2.
balaenoptera musculus tip head spout 2009 channel
Head and lips of a giant Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) rise to the surface. Image 1 of 2.
balaenoptera musculus tip head 2009 channel
Bright red from the undigested krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) pigments, a Blue Whale's (Balaenoptera musculus) feces floats on the surface of the ocean.
balaenoptera musculus feces 2009 channel
Two Blues....one up spouting, one just beneath the surface. (Balaenoptera musculus)
balaenoptera musculus two 2009 channel
Knobby headed Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) takes a close pass by the whalers.
megaptera novaengliae head passengers 2009 channel
Bright turquoise pectoral fins are visible just beneath the surface as this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) visits the whalers on the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae approach 2009 channel
Down she goes! A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) heads for deeper water and shows its tail flukes.
megaptera novaengliae arch tail fluke 2009 channel
Humpback tail flukes very close to the whalers. (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
Humpback tail flukes very close to the whalers. (Megaptera novaengliae)
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) makes a dive right under the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae dorsal fin approach boat 2009 channel
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) rises and spouts from beneath the Condor Express to the delight of the whalers.
megaptera novaengliae bow 2009 channel
The knobby head, splashguard and blowholes of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) can be clearly seen.
megaptera novaengliae head approaching boat 2009 channel
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) come to see the whalers on the bow of the Condor Express.
delphinus passengers 2009 channel
Two Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba), one has a fish.
cepphus columba two fish 2009 channel
Twice as Blue (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus two 2009 channel
Four Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) in flight.
cepphus columba flight 2009 channel
There are 7 Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) in this image if you count the one that just dove beneath the surface.
cepphus columba flight 2009 channel 031
A solitary Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) returns to its roost on the island cliffs with a fish in its mouth.
cepphus columba fish 2009 channel
Seven Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) under way in the Channel. A small juvenile can be seen in the lower center.
delphinus calf 2009 channel
Big Mac: Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) canopy floating on the surface at Santa Cruz Island. Most of the fronds are coated with the Jack Frost Bryozoan (Membranipora membranacea).
macrocystis canopy membranipora 2009 channel
A young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) shows its pectoral fin as it begins a very lazy pec-slap. Image 1 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae pectoral fin 2009 channel
A young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) makes a small splash as it slaps its pectoral fin.. Image 2 of 2.
megaptera novaengliae lazy pectoral slap 2009 channel
Close look at the descending tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail 2009 channel
Here we see a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) creeping up behind the boat.
megaptera novaengliae stern approach 2009 channel
Head, dorsal fin and, below the surface, the bright blue pectoral fins....all with spout spray...Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae side 2009 channel
A second episode of lob-tailing from this frisky young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) kicks up a lot of spray.
megaptera novaengliae tail lob whole animal 2009 channel
Tail throw or "lob tailing" makes a big splash....Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
megaptera novaengliae tail lob splashdown 2009 channel
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) starts to spout while it is still just below the ocean surface.
megaptera novaengliae approach 2009 channel
A young Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) tries to shake hands with the whalers on board the Condor Express.
megaptera novaengliae waving pectoral fin passengers 2009 channel
Waterfall: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) tail.
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke 2009 channel
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) makes a very very close approach.
megaptera novaengliae very 2009 channel
Young California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) climb high up the volcanic cliffs of Santa Cruz Island to rest in the sun.
zalophus californianus cliff face 2009 sta cruz island 250
Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) circle around a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) as it tears apart an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) for lunch.
zalophus californianus feeding mola larus 2009 channel
A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) relaxes on its back as it takes a look back at the Condor Express passengers.
zalophus californianus water 2009 channel

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2009 07-03 SB Channel