2010 01-30 SB Channel

Two Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) demonstrate their agility on a glassy ocean surface. Part 1 of 2.

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Two Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) demonstrate their agility on a glassy ocean surface. Part 2 of 2.

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Tail of the whale: image 1 of 3 - Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail flukes.

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Tail flukes waterfall: image 2 of 3 - Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail.

Eschrichtiusrobustustailflukewaterfall2010Channel157

Starting a deeper dive: image 3 of 3 - Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail flukes.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) sends up a bushy spout along the seacliffs of Santa Cruz Island.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts along the seacliffs of Santa Cruz Island. The green hills atop the cliffs atest to our recent rainy period.

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Close look at a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spout. 1 of 2.

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Close look at a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spout. 2 of 2.

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Green hills, sea cliffs and a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spout - Santa Cruz Island.

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Two Common Mures (Uria aalge) swim on a glassy ocean.

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A bubbling Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) rises to the surface to take a breath of air.

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Close up look at th dorsal fin and spout of a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

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Looking west toward Profile Point (the farthest point to the right side), Santa Cruz Island in January.

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Two kayakers enjoy a wave at the sandspit, Santa Barbara Harbor.

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Salad. A close look at a drifting paddy of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) with strands of Eel Grass (Zostera marina) and Surf Grass (Phyllospadix torreyi).

MacrocystisdebrispaddyCLOSEZostera2010Channel247

Profile of the front half of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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A close look at the head and back of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) - silhouettes on a sparkling sea.

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Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) - close look #1.

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Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) - close look #2.

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Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) and photographers aboard the Condor Express.

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Two Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) on a blue ocean.

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A Common Dolphin rides out in front of two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus).

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Very close together, two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) swim side-by-side.

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Two Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus), likely a male courting a female.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) together on a wintery sea.

EschrichtiusrobustusDelphinuscapensis2010Channel246

Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) play around a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is accompanied by two Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) visit the whalers on board the Condor Express.

Delphinuscapensispassengers2010Channel069

A raft of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) and a gull use a drifting paddy of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) as shelter on the open ocean.

ZalophuscalifornianusgroupraftingMacrocystispaddy2010Channel072

Two kayakers look on as a big swell and a high tide push water over the top of the Santa Barbara Harbor breakwater.

wavebreakwallkayak2010Harbor019