2010 06-13 SB Channel

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding and at least 4 "mug" the Condor Express at one time! An amazing encounter. What motivates these beasts to act like puppy dogs?

Two extremely friendly and curious Humpback Whales spyhop right next to the Condor Express as the whalers use their weapons of choice: digital cameras.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhops passengers 2010 Channel 418
Two Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 169
Humpack on the bow.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 143
Humpback on the starboard side.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 115
Extreme close up of Humback blowholes.
Megaptera novaeangliae blow holes EXTREME CLOSE 2010 Channel 133
Chin of Humpback showing barnacles.
Megaptera novaeangliae barnacles EXTREME CLOSE 2010 Channel 157
Humpback passes under the bow.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 155
Spyhop.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 159
Happy whalers pose with Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 187
One very close, another coming in for a look.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE spyhop passengers 2010 Channel 047
If you look at the footprints, you can see the track of this Humpback as it turns to head directly at the Condor Express.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE turning heading passengers 2010 Channel 007
Two Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE TWO passengers 2010 Channel 037
About as close as you'd want to get.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE tail fluke passengers 2010 Channel 024
Extreme close up of baleen. Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) can be seen jumping out of the water.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE baleen 2010 Channel 025
Extreme close up of baleen and water leaving the mouth and ventral pouch.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE baleen krill jumping 2010 Channel 023
Two more Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE TWO spyhoping passengers 2010 Channel 050
Very close approach.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME spyhop CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 053
Tubercles and barnacles.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE skin barnacles tubercles 2010 Channel 108
Tubercles and ventral grooves.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE skin barnacles tubercles 2010 Channel 107
Close look at lunge feeding. The top of the head is at the bottom of this image.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE mouth baleen krill 2010 Channel 024
Baleen can be seen inside this smiling mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREME CLOSE side head mouth 2010 Channel 116
Spout spray - annointed by a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREMELY CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 201
Very close look.
Megaptera novaeangliae EXTREMELY CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 195
Five in a row.
Megaptera novaeangliae FIVE 2010 Channel 064
Head underwater.
Megaptera novaeangliae head 2010 Channel 122
End of lunge feeding sequence...ventral pouch still extended with water.
Megaptera novaeangliae head side pleats expanded spouting 2010 Channel 040
Lunge feeding occurs when krill are near the surface. The whales can "pin" their prey against the surface where they cannot escape their fate.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feed baleen CLOSE 2010 Channel 019
Head-on look at spouting whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae head spouting 2010 Channel 545
Baleen and distended ventral grooves.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feed mouth open CLOSE 2010 Channel 033
A direct look inside the mouth of a lunge feeding Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feed mouth open baleen 2010 Channel 009
Closer view of a lunge feeding Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feed CLOSE 2010 Channel 044
A Humpback rolls on its right side and waves its left pectoral fin at the whalers as the digital cameras click.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 124
This whale has been seen several years in a row in the Santa Barbara Channel, and first showed up this season around March. The scars appear to have been caused by a small boat propeller.
Megaptera novaeangliae propeller scar pattern 2010 Channel 182
Spy hop madness.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 051
Spouting.
Megaptera novaeangliae spouting CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 110
Spyhop with a chin full of stalked barnacles.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop chin CLOSE 2010 Channel 227
Another spyhopper.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 177
White pectoral fins are visible under the blue water.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 058
Tail fluke waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail flukes waterfall 2010 Channel 084
Three in a row.
Megaptera novaeangliae THREE 2010 Channel 064
Close look at the tail.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail water CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 066
Rostrum.
Megaptera novaeangliae tip rostrum CLOSE 2010 Channel 153
Twin spyhoppinig friendly Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 182
Rostrum.
Megaptera novaeangliae tip rostrum CLOSE 2010 Channel 190
This whale has rolled over on its back, exposing its ventral grooves and copious stalked barnacle colony.
Megaptera novaeangliae upside ventral pleats barnacles 2010 Channel 163
Another upside down and playful, friendly Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae upside VERY CLOSE passengers 2010 Channel 139

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2010 06-13 SB Channel