2009 08-10 SB Channel

Flat and calm seas with some overcast, but the whales were there to greet us. Blue Whales and Humpback Whales, both species intent on showing lots of tail flukes. Wow!

A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail fluke shows scars from being raked by Orca teeth.
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2009 channel 307
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) snout moving through glassy water.
balaenoptera musculus head glassy 2009 channel 156
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) head and spout -- water dripping off the head and over the lips.
balaenoptera musculus head spout 2009 channel 068
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) dorsal fin 1.
balaenoptera musculus dorsal fin 2009 channel 087
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) dorsal fin 2.
balaenoptera musculus chopped dorsal 2009 channel 159
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) nose making a bow wave as it moves ahead.
balaenoptera musculus head bow wake 2009 channel 074
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke waterfall.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke 2009 channel 106
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke waterfall.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke 2009 channel 061
Side look at a deep diving Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and its tail fluke waterfall.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke 2009 channel 050
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke 2009 channel 047
Side view of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail.
balaenoptera musculus lateral tail fluke 2009 channel 049
Left side view of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke waterfall.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke waterfall 2009 channel 267
Now the right side of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke waterfall.
balaenoptera musculus tail fluke waterfall 2009 channel 259
Two Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus), one diving deep.
balaenoptera musculus two one fluke 2009 channel 113
Posterior view of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) arching its back and preparing to dive deep.
balaenoptera musculus tail 2009 channel 060
Two Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) on the surface, side by side.
balaenoptera musculus two 2009 channel 091
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail sinks into the deep.
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2009 channel 023
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail fluke.
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2009 channel 135
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail fluke waterfall.
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2009 channel 133
Posterior view of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) arching its back and preparing for a deep dive.
megaptera novaeangliae arched posterior aspect 2009 channel 017
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) left side and dorsal fin.
balaenoptera musculus tall dorsal fin 2009 channel 147
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) right side and dorsal fin, arching for a deeper dive.
megaptera novaeangliae arched glassy 2009 channel 288
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) left side.
megaptera novaeangliae dorsal fin 2009 channel 016
Three times as much hump - 3 Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) side by side.
megaptera novaeangliae three 2009 channel 281
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail fluke waterfall.
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2009 channel 290
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) resting on a rocky ledge at Santa Cruz Island.
zalophus californianus rocks 2009 sta cruz island 318
Two curious California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus californianus two 2009 channel 172
Six California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) rafting on a glassy ocean.
zalophus californianus rafting 2009 channel 079
A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) head-on view.
zalophus californianus head whole body 2009 channel 220
Right side view of a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus californianus 2009 channel 057
Three Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) side by side.
megaptera novaeangliae three 2009 channel 282
Two resting California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus californianus two lateral 2009 channel 198
Two California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) swim by the Condor Express.
zalophus californianus two 2009 channel 184
A fleeting glimpse of a shy Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
balaenoptera acutorostrata 2009 channel 013

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2009 08-10 SB Channel