2009 08-24 SB Channel

A long run up towards the ledge off San Miguel Island paid off with a Blue Whale and a lunge-feeding Humpback. More krill on the surface than I have ever seen. En route we were visited by both Common and Risso's Dolphins! A bit breezy but fun!

A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunges directly at the camera. The lower jaw and its ventral pleats are expanded and the upper jaw (to the left) can be seen with its bushy baleen.
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 059
The mighty blast of a giant Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest known amount of air to be exhaled by any organism that ever lived on this planet.
balaenoptera musculus spout 2009 channel 003
The spout of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) catches the breeze in the middle of a huge krill patch.
megaptera novaeangliae spout krill patch 2009 channel 001
Three Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) fooling around.
delphinus capensis fooling around 2009 channel 006
High speed Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) caught with high speed photography.
delphinus capensis 2009 channel 004
Whalers on board the Condor Express enjoy a close encounter with Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus passengers 2009 channel 040
The bulbous head and spout of a Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus).
grampus griseus 2009 channel 006
Two Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).
grampus griseus two 2009 channel 004
Extreme close up look at a Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus).
grampus griseus 2009 channel 010
Several streaks of red kril (Thysanoessa spinifera) and lots of seabirds feasting.
krill patches thysanoessa spinifera 2009 channel 002
A single patch of krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) about the size of a football field.
krill patches thysanoessa spinifera 2009 channel 015
A closer look at the big krill patch on the surface (Thysanoessa spinifera).
krill patches thysanoessa spinifera 2009 channel 003
A curious image of some real biological interest: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lets out a big blast of air bubbles from its blowhole as it rises up from below this patch of kril (Thysanoessa spinifera). You can see the krill jumping out of the water.
megaptera novaeangliae bubble blast krill jumping 2009 channel 012
Whalers on the Condor Express enjoy a friendly Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2009 channel 002
The top of the head of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and its baleen can be seen as the animal lunge feeds on krill away from the camera.
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 009
A very close portrait of a Humpback Whale's (Megaptera novaeangliae) head and spout.
megaptera novaeangliae head spout 2009 channel 013
Say "ahhh." A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) does a slow vertical lunge in the middle of a huge patch of krill (Thysanoessa spinifera).
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 042
Here we see the jaws snaped shut and water being expelled from within the mouth of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 002
The gaping jaws of a feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)...again notice the krill everywhere.
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 032
Krill in the mouth, krill all around the mouth, this lazy Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) fed itself in slow motion.
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 028
Light shines off the tips of the baleen plates in the open mouth of this lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2009 channel 007
The right flanks and dorsal fin of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaeangliae dorsal hump 2009 channel 004
Tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2009 channel 005

© Robert Perry

Mr.Zalophus@gmail.com Please click on the image above to go to my MarineBioPhotography website.

2009 08-24 SB Channel