2009 07-13 SB Channel
Large patches of krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) on the surface of the Santa Barbara Channel are shown here. Notice the spashes, or better "squirts," which are from squid (Loligo opalescens) attacking the krill from below. Krill can also be seen jumping out of the water to escape the ambushing squid. Occassionally, a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) would zoom through and eat the squid.
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Sequence 1 of 2: A huge sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) takes in over a thousand gallons of seawater full of krill. Note the upper jaw (top) with its baleen plates, and the lower jaw (bottom) with pleats expanded.
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Sequence 2 of 2: A huge sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) takes in over a thousand gallons of seawater full of krill. Note the lower jaw shown here with pleats expanded and the animal is starting to roll over on its right side.
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Rare image of an adult female Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) alongside the Condor Express in the middle of the Santa Barbara Channel. You can click the "Map This" button on the top of this page to see the exact location.
Image 1 of 4: Another huge sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) is happening under a big patch of krill on the surface. In this shot, the krill are the orange dots, and they are leaping out of the water to escape their demise.
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Image 2 of 4: Sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) surrounds a patch of krill (orange dots). The upper jaw is to the lower right, and the lower jaw is to the upper left, in other words the animal is on its right side in this photo.
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Image 3 of 4: Sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) surrounds a patch of krill (orange dots). The upper jaw is to the lower right, and the tightly packed baleen plates can be seen clearly.
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Image 4 of 4: Sideways lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) with baleen and lots of krill (orange dots inside the mouth) visible.
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This massive lunge of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) sends out a huge wave of water as the beast closes its mouth on a ball of krill. To the left edge, the greatly expanded ventral pleats can be seen.
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There it is! A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) mugs the Condor Express and allows whalers on board to get an up close and personal look.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) mugs the Condor Express and allows whalers on board to get an up close and personal look.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) makes a turn and heads directly towards the Condor Express which allows whalers on board to get an up close and personal look.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) with white pectoral fins glowing under the water...a very close encounter.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) mugs the Condor Express and allows whalers on board to get an up close and personal look.
Nose to nose: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) approaches the bow the Condor Express and allows whalers on board to get an up close and personal look.
Size matters - A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) is compared to the size of the whalers on board the Condor Express.
Another look at this female Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) that mugged the Condor Express.
Hang your head over the side and say hello.
Keep the children behind the railings!
Small spy hop.
A spy hopping Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
This Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) rolled over on its right side to take a look at the whalers.
Here she comes again!
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) noses up to the bow of the Condor Express showing its dorsal surface and long pectoral fin.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) head pops through the surface...the rest of it is still underwater.
Again a nose to nose encounter with this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
Barnacles on the chin of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae)...portrait of the front of the head.
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) dives so the whaler with the camera can see its dorsal hump and tail flukes.
Another head portrait of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
Rainbow spray from the might blow of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae).
Extreme close up look at the tip of the head.
Head, looking directly down on it.
Image 1 of 2: Krill going wild and leaping into the air. They look like reddish bits of popcorn as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) just below them starts to have lunch.
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Image 2 of 2: Krill going wild and leaping into the air. The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) performs a sidways lunge and takes in millions of thes tiny crustaceans.
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A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) shows its pectoral fin as it rolls underneath the boat.
Another Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) pectoral fin in very rich and soupy green water.
A 4-part image sequence, part 1: A hungry Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) is attracted to the red "popcorn" that has suddenly appeared on the surface. Little did it know that a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) was coming up from the depths to consume the red ball of krill.
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Image 2 of 4: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) lunges forward and takes in a big patch of krill (red dots).
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