2010 07-27 SB Channel

Frisky Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and some Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) too. A very calm, sunny day near the west end of Santa Rosa Island.

A very friendly Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2010 Channel 001
Humpbacks love to play with Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) drifting free on the open ocean.
Megaptera novaeangliae head Macrocystis 2010 Channel 089
A friendly Humpback puts on a show.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin slap passengers 2010 Channel 003
Big pectoral fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin 2010 Channel 034
A Humpback, laying on its right side with its left eye and left pectoral fin visible.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 022
Long, arching pectoral fin of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin 2010 Channel 032
Santa Rosa Island provides a nice backdrop for this rolling Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin Sta Rosa Island 2010 Channel 013
A pectoral fin of a Humpback with Giant Kelp attached.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral fin Macrocystis 2010 Channel 027
A completely upside down Humpback Whale, slaps its long pectoral fin on the water.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral slap 2010 Channel 052
Dorsal fin and left flanks of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae side dorsal fin 2010 Channel 143
Another photo of an upside down Humpback...notice the ventral grooves that run from the mouth back to the navel.
Megaptera novaeangliae upside 2010 Channel 049
A spouting Humpback seen very close up.
Megaptera novaeangliae spout 2010 Channel 024
Tail flukes of a Humpback Whale...going down.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2010 Channel 145
Yet another upside down Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 085
A big Humpback rises up from the depths.
Megaptera novaeangliae head Macrocystis 2010 Channel 006
Giant Kelp attached to the head of a Humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae Macrocystis 2010 Channel 003
A Humpback Whale rolling around in the Giant Kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae Macrocystis 2010 Channel 015
Giant Kelp is seen floating above a submerged Humpback Whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae head Macrocystis 2010 Channel 077
A giant Blue Whale begins its spout.
Balaenoptera musculus spout 2010 Channel 033
Mother and calf Blue Whales.
Balaenoptera musculus cow calf 2010 Channel 020
Two Blue Whales, a mother and her calf, migrating to the west.
Balaenoptera musculus cow calf 2010 Channel 015
A spouting Blue Whale with the west end of Santa Rosa Island in the background.
Balaenoptera musculus Sta Cruz Isl 2010 Channel 013
A leaping Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 005
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary research vessel "Shearwater" heads west along the northern face of Santa Rosa Island.
vessel NOAA Shearwater 2010 Channel 021

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2010 07-27 SB Channel