2010 05-08 SB Channel

Lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaengliae) gulping down krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) in gale force winds off the northeast end of Santa Cruz Island. Wow!

75,000 pounds of airborn whale flesh. Santa Cruz Island is in the background.
Megaptera novaeangliae breach gale winds Sta Cruz 2010 Channel 098
Pacific Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina).
Phoca vitulina face bait barge 2010 Channel 010
Two vertical lunge feeding Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding together 2010 Channel 045
Smoke from the twin exhaust pipes of an adult Humpback Whale heading into gale force winds.
Megaptera novaeangliae smokin spout wind 2010 Channel 106
Lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) takes a gulp of krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) right next to the Condor Express.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge CLOSE 2010 Channel 031
Two Humpbacks in the wind.
Megaptera novaeangliae gale winds 2010 Channel 021
Whalers on board the Condor Express get a friendly visit from a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2010 Channel 118
A flock of Red Necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) gets chased off their krill feast by an equally hungry Humpback feeding on the same species.
Megaptera novaeangliae Phalaropus lobatus 2010 Channel 053
Two lunge feeding Humpbacks, one showing its baleen.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 051
Two Humpbacks complete a vertical lunge feeding.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 026
Two lunge feeding Humpbacks. One showing its baleen plates, and the other has rolled over on its back to show its ventral groove blubber and a few orange barnacles on its chin.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding CLOSE 2010 Channel 057
Two Humpbacks moving downwind with a small squadron of gulls.
Megaptera novaeangliae Larus 2010 Channel 126
Three Humpbacks heading into the gale.
Megaptera novaeangliae gale winds 2010 Channel 010
A lone Humpback spout on a a very breezy ocean.
Megaptera novaeangliae gale winds 2010 Channel 003
Image 1 of 2: Close look at the head and pectoral fin of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae head pects spout wind 2010 Channel 015
Image 2 of 2: Close look at the head and pectoral fin of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae head pects 2010 Channel 012
Water pours out of the expanded oral cavity of this lunge feeding Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge 2010 Channel 068
Vertical lunge.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge 2010 Channel 065
A sideways lunge looking at the belly side. A white pectoral fin glows in the rich, green water.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 037
Lips.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge lips 2010 Channel 034
Vertical lunge.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 032
Vertical lunge with thousands of tiny krill jumping out of the water in a fruitless attempt to save their lives.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge krill Thysanoessa spinifera 2010 Channel 064
The ventral groove blubber is extended as this Humpback rolls over on its back and slaps its left pectoral fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunging rolling 2010 Channel 073
Vertical lunge feeding...note the greatly expanded oral cavity.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge nose CLOSE 2010 Channel 128
Right side view of dorsal fin and flanks of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae right lateral gale winds 2010 Channel 011
Great view of baleen.
Megaptera novaeangliae mouth open baleen CLOSE 2010 Channel 035
Image 1 of 2: A spy-hopping Humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop CLOSE 2010 Channel 077
Image 2 of 2: A spy-hopping Humpback whale surrounded by its spout spray.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop CLOSE 2010 Channel 079
Close look at blowholes and spout.
Megaptera novaeangliae spout CLOSE wind 2010 Channel 062
Compare the colors and markings of this individual with the next image.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2010 Channel 020
Compare the colors and markings of this individual with the previous image.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2010 Channel 017
Tail fluke waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2010 Channel 019
Tail flukes in the breeze.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke gale winds 2010 Channel 005
More windy tail flukes.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke spray wind 2010 Channel 038
Red necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) sitting on the ocean feeding on krill.
Phalaropus lobatus huge flock water 2010 Channel 002
Close up look at the ventral groove blubber of this Humpbacks expanded oral cavity.
Megaptera novaeangliae ventr groove blubb LUNGE 2010 Channel 061

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2010 05-08 SB Channel