2009 08-01 SB Channel All Day ACS Trip

All-day lunge LUNGE-FEEDING Blue and Humpback krill banquet. The LA Chapter of the American Cetacean Society hosted the feast observation trip on the Condor Express. During the afternoon we hooked up with research scientist John Calambokidis, Megan McKenna and crew who were in the area tagging whales. This was one of the most impressive masses of both Blues and Humpbacks engaged in lunge feeding on the surface that I've ever seen.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) jaws in a shoal of krill.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding mouth open side baleen 2009 channel 062
A shy California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) takes a peek at the whalers on board the Condor Express.
zalophus californianus head peaking water 2009 channel 280
A big vertical lunge by a feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaengliae vertical lunge feeding 2009 channel 119
Long Beak Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) play in the clear, glassy water.
delphinus capensis 2009 channel 003
Looking directly into a Blue Whale's (Balaenoptera musculus) mouth, lower lip up out of the water with ventral pleats visible from within. Upper jaw is turquoise coloration under the water and krill are popping everywhere. Snack time.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding mouth open lower lip transparency krill 2009 channel 107
Further adventures of the lunge feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) seen in the previous photo.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding mouth open krill 2009 channel 110
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) extreme close up of mouth and baleen.
megaptera novaengliae mouth baleen extreme 2009 channel 147
Close up look - krill popcorn and a Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) feeding upside down.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding mouth full krill 2009 channel 127
Here's that same Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) that we've been seeing -- it lets loose blast of air everytime it starts its deep dive.
balaenoptera musculus exhale bubbles start dive 2009 channel 324
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lateral view with dorsal fin and some diatom growth on its flanks. Santa Cruz Island is in back.
balaenoptera musculus lateral dorsal fin diatom growth sta cruz island 2009 channel 202
A Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) with lips, nose and spout, and water spilling out of the mouth.
balaenoptera musculus head lips spout 2009 channel 187
Upside down Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in a sideways lunge and a pectoral fin just rising up to the surface.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding lower lip pleats pectoral fin rising 2009 channel 162
A big mass of krill can be seen as this Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lunges through taking up some breakfast.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding pleats krill 2009 channel 160
Krill can be seen popping on the surface as this upside down Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) takes a gulp.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding mouth open lower lip krill 2009 channel 124
Distant shot 1 of 2 of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lunge feeding.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide angle boat 2009 channel 191
Distant shot 2 of 2 of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lunge feeding.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide angle boat 2009 channel 193
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 channel 307
Common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) fooling around underwater.
delphinus capensis fooling around 2009 channel 183
A Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lays on its right side with a greatly expanded ventral pouch.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding pleats expanded left lateral pectoral fin 2009 channel 129
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) leaps at the camera.
delphinus capensis leap camera 2009 channel 169
Image sequence 1 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 203
Image sequence 2 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 205
Image sequence 3 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 207
Image sequence 4 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 209
Image sequence 5 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 211
Image sequence 6 - Vertical lunge feeding by a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)...water squirts out of baleen and mouth.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding wide seq 2009 channel 215
A Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) that is missing its dorsal fin.
balaenoptera musculus missing dorsal fin 2009 channel 298
Two rambunctious Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) leap through the wake of the Condor Express.
delphinus capensis two leaping 2009 channel 166
A massive ejection of water from the mouth of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) as it collapses its ventral pleats and filters out the krill.
balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding water squirt mouth pleats 2009 channel 141
Torpedos rocket through the blue water -- Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis two zoom 2009 channel 001
A mighty Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 channel 303
Long Beak Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) mating.
delphinus capensis mating 2009 channel 173
Closer view of a Humpback Whale's (Megaptera novaeangliae) mouth with baleen.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding mouth open wide palate baleen water drainage 2009 channel 069
Two surfing Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) on a glassy wave.
delphinus capensis two abstract 2009 channel 170
Mouth and baleen with water pouring out the corner of the lips - Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding extreme 2009 channel 167
Mouth with baleen plates dripping, ventral pleats expanded, and water squirting out of the corner of the mouth...Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding extreme 2009 channel 177
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) baleen and water spilling out.
megaptera novaengliae baleen extreme 2009 channel 195
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) sideways lunge.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding mouth open upper jaw baleen 2009 channel 030
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding, mouth agape.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding mouth open baleen lateral 2009 channel 035
Direct Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mouth shot. Upper jaw is to the left, lower to the right.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding looking directly into mouth 2009 channel 235
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) closing its mouth around a full pouch of water and krill.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding lateral mouth closing water squirting 2009 channel 038
Three Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at various stags of lunge feeding.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding three 2009 channel 047
Three Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding.
megaptera novaengliae three lunge feeding 2009 channel 065
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge...upside down.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding mouth open baleen 2009 channel 084
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge...sideways.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding sideways mouth open palate baleen expanding pleats 2009 channel 020
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) expels a mouth full of water through its baleen. The belly side is facing the camera.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding side water squirt mouth pectoral fin air 2009 channel 013
Nose of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with a full mouth.
megaptera novaengliae tip nose 2009 channel 019
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding. Tiny red dots are krill.
megaptera novaengliae lunge feeding two 2009 channel 075

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2009 08-01 SB Channel All Day ACS Trip