2010 07-21 SB Channel

Tons of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus), Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus), and Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) on a calm but overcast day. More whales per square foot than most people can even imagine.

The whalers on board the Condor Express get a friendly visit by two Humpback Whales.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO passengers 2010 Channel 009
Blue Whale dorsal fin.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 030
The sleek and hydrodynamic head of a Blue Whale rises to the surface.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 001
Playful Blue Whale calf rolling over next to its mother (under the surface). The entire outline of the mouth, ventral grooves and eye can be seen.
Balaenoptera musculus calf 2010 Channel 002
Mother Blue Whale and her calf.
Balaenoptera musculus cow calf 2010 Channel 002
A mother Blue Whale and her calf.
Balaenoptera musculus mother calf 2010 Channel 001
Tall Blue Whale spout.
Balaenoptera musculus spout 2010 Channel 009
Another mighty blast from a Blue Whale.
Balaenoptera musculus spout 2010 Channel 015
The beefy tail stock and flukes of a deep diving Blue Whalr.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke waterfall 2010 Channel 009
The very wide tail flukes of a Blue Whale.
Balaenoptera musculus tail flukes 2010 Channel 013
Common Dolphins mating...the male is on the bottom with its mouth open.
Delphinus capensis mating seq 2010 Channel 001
A Risso's Dolphin seems to smile as it leaps.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 003
A racing Risso's Dolphin.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 007
Risso's Dolphin dorsal fin.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 011
Another "smiling" Risso's Dolphin.
Grampus griseus smiling 2010 Channel 003
Humpback dorsal fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 009
Three tail flukes in a row -- Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail flukes 2010 Channel 011
Mother and her calf: Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf 2010 Channel 007
Young Humpback rolling around next to its mother (now under the surface).
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf 2010 Channel 003
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro...Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae FOUR 2010 Channel 036
Humpback tail....going down.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail 2010 Channel 006
The high arch of a Humpback's back markes the start of a deep dive.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail 2010 Channel 031
Whalers get a close look at Humpback tail flukes.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke passengers 2010 Channel 005
Humpback tail flukes waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2010 Channel 008
Twin spouts of very friendly Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO passengers 2010 Channel 006
Whalers on the Condor Express again get great looks at two Humpbacks.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO passengers 2010 Channel 018
A Murrelet, a seabird that dives deep to catch fish.
Unident Murrelet 2010 Channel 233
Two humps.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO 2010 Channel 014
Three Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) and a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) hang out near a Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) paddy.
Zalophus californianus Larus drift Macrocystis paddy 2010 Channel 013
A playful California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus).
Zalophus californianus 2010 Channel 005
High and dry. California Sea Lions way up above the water line at Santa Cruz Island.
Zalophus californianus cliffs 2010 Sta Cruz Island 030

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2010 07-21 SB Channel