2009 08-12 SB Channel

A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) calf, a bit larger than the others photographed today, riding in the protective custody of mom and another adult.

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A rare opportunity to look directly into the gaping mouth of a lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) as it scoops up the krill laden water. The animal is rolled over on its right side so baleen can be seen on both sides of the pink palate, and the expanded ventral (belly) pleats are visible to the right side. Yummy.

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A mother Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) teaches her calf how to surf a small open ocean wave.

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Here are the ventral pleats of a lunge feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus); the giant is feeding on krill.

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Whalers on board the Condor Express get a visit by curious Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) including a mother and her very small calf.

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) image 1 of 2: Mom and her calf underwater as junior heads for the surface.

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) image 2 of 2: Mom underwater as junior come up to take a breath of air.

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Eye to eye with a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).

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A young California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) takes a close look at the whalers on board the Condor Express.

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A congregation of young California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) are hauled out on the rocky ledges of Santa Cruz Island along with one curious Western Gull (Larus occidentalis).

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Here comes mom and her calf paying a visit to the whalers on board the Condor Express.

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A lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is seen closing its mouth around several hundred gallons of seawater full of krill. The head of this beast is to the left and the ventral pleats are fully expanded to the right. Notice how the long, tan baleen plates curve down to fit perfectly inside the lower lips.

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A side view of a lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).

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Another head-on look directly into the water/krill filled mouth of a feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).

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A dorsal view of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding.

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Here we see only the tip of the nose and upper jaw out of the water with baleen showing. The lower jaw is under water where it is engulfing hundreds of gallons of seawater rich with krill.

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Lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).

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This Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is on its back gulping food. Note the ventral pleats, left pectoral fin, and the tip of the nose with baleen hanging from the upper jaw. A few gulls take off to escape possible danger in the background.

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This Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is lunge feeding away from the camera which allows us to see the enormity of the gullar pouch with ventral pleats fully expanded.

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A rapid sideways lunge seen from the belly side of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Note the long left pectoral fin.

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Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) are seen popping out of the ocean as this Humpback Whale's (Megaptera novaeangliae) jaws close around the water and krill.

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Portrait of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) -- left side of head.

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In the final stages of a lunge feeding sequence, this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) has its mouth almost fully closed up and is spouting at the same time.

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Portrait of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) -- top of head and splashguard.

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An almost upside down Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) has rolled over on its right side exposing its ventral pleats as it lunges for krill.

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A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) rockets past the Condor Express.

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Tiny krill-eating Red Necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) take off across the ocean as the Condor Express approaches.

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A distant look at a shy Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

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Dorsal fin of a Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

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Close look at the back of a Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

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Dorsal fin and back of a giant Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

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A patch of red krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) is seen spilling out of the open mouth of this Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) as it lunges from left to right, upside down. The left pectoral fin and its ventral pleats are also visible.

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In the final stages of feeding, a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) expels seawater from its mouth and traps krill in its baleen. This beast is completely upside down and the left pectoral fin is up.

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Upside down, lunge feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

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Another view of the underside of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) chin.

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The left pectoral fin of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) on its right side. The huge water-filled expanded pleats are to the left of the photo, and the back of the animal is to the right.

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A Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) on its left side, right pecoral fin in the air, during a final stage of lunge feeding.

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Lunging Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

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A nice batch of krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) is seen jumping out of the water as the gaping mouth of this giant Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) closes around it.

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Dorsal fin and left side of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming near a patch of drifting Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).

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Tail flukes of a diving Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

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The "egg yolk" jelly (Phacellophora camtschatica).

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