2010 08-10 Far West SB Channel

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus), Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) and Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus). An overcast day with calm seas and a trip 40 miles southwest to the feeding grounds where we found over 100 whales spouting all around. Exhilarating! Be sure to click the "Map This" button on the upper right to see where we went: half way between Point Conception and San Miguel Island.

An armada of Common Dolphins ply the jade waters.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 009
Upper jaw of a Humpback Whale, full of baleen plates, sticks out of the water as the beast opens its mouth to take in a big school of krill. Image 1 of 2.
Megaptera novaeangliae mouth baleen 2010 Channel 104
Whalers shoot a friendly Humpback Whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2010 Channel 063
Upper jaw of a Humpback Whale, full of baleen plates, sticks out of the water as the beast opens its mouth to take in a big school of krill. Image 2 of 2.
Megaptera novaeangliae mouth baleen 2010 Channel 105
An Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) swims beneath the surface sea foam.
mola 2010 Channel 002
Two Humpback Whales, one is sideways lunge feeding on the surface. We are looking at the tip of the dorsal fin of the whale in the lower right corner, and the top of the head/rostrum of the upper whale. The mouth is open and baleen can be seen in the upper jaw.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 096
Common Dolphins come alongside for a look at the Condor Express whalers.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 005
Surface lunge feeding Humpback Whale...left pectoral fin is shown to the left of the image.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 095
One frisky Common Dolphin leaps over another.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 002
A nearly vertical surface lunge feeding maneuver by this hungry Humpback Whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 094
Two Common Dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 010
A look directly into the gaping mouth of a feeding Humpback Whale. The animal is on its side, upper jaw on the bottom and lower jaw greatly expanded on top. The dark reddish-brown baleen can be seen.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding 2010 Channel 092
Whalers shoot Common Dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 006
This Humpback Whale has rolled over and has its left pectoral fin in the air as it lunge feeds. The expanded ventral groove blubber is shown as the beast gulps a huge volume of seawater full of krill.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge 2010 Channel 119
Close look at speedy Common Dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 003
Dorsal fin and flanks of a giant Blue Whale.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 001
Common Dolphins under the clear blue water.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 007
A group of Common Dolphins near the Condor Express and another leads the charge out front.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 008
Open mouth and tip of the rostrum of a Blue Whale.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 003
The "Fried Egg" or "Egg Yolk" Jelly (Chrysaora fuscescens).
Chrysaora fuscescens 2010 Channel 007
Another look at the tip of a Blue Whale's snout, mouth open slightly.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 004
A tall spout from a mighty Blue Whale, moving from right to left.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 005
The underside of a lunge-feeding Blue Whale, showing its ventral groove blubber. The beast is moving from right to left, and has gulped an enormous volume of water and krill, which has expanded its ventral grooves.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 006
Common Dolphins coming at you.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 001
Common Dolphins streak across the mirror glass.
Delphinus capensis 2010 Channel 004
A lunge-feeding Blue Whale, upside down, exposes its ventral groove blubber and has its left pectoral fin in the air.
Balaenoptera musculus 2010 Channel 002
Three Risso's Dolphins, one with a damaged dorsal fin and scar on its back.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 001
A Risso's Dolphin sends out a wave as its bulbous head moves through the water.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 002
A Risso's Dolphin heads towards the camera lens.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 003
The round head of a Risso's Dolphin just beneath the surface, as it comes up to spout.
Grampus griseus 2010 Channel 004
Whalers shoot a Humpback Whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2010 Channel 075
Two surface lunge-feeding Humpback Whales take gulps of krill directly in front of the whalers on the Condor Express. The farthest animal has taken in its food and has rolled over to show its ventral grooves. The nearest animal has its upper jaw and baleen out of the water as it lunges forward to feed. Feeding by two Humpback Whales so close to the boat is a rare privilege to experience. Image 1 of 2.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 001
Another surface lunge-feeding Humpback Whale, moving from left to right, and laying on its left side.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 003
Two surface lunge-feeding Humpback Whales take gulps of krill directly in front of the whalers on the Condor Express. The farthest animal has taken in its food and has rolled over to show its ventral grooves. The nearest animal has its upper jaw and baleen out of the water as it lunges forward to feed. Feeding by two Humpback Whales so close to the boat is a rare privilege to experience. Image 2 of 2.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 002
Close look at a Humpback Whale charging towards at the camera.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 023
Like a snow capped mountain peak, the humpy, lumpy dorsal fin of a Humpback Whale is seen as it raises up out of the ocean.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 046
A Humpback Whale spout seen close up.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 057
Abstract whale sculpture: a Humpback is caught lunge-feeding on its right side, heading towards the camera. The expanded ventral groove blubber and knobby left pectoral fin can be seen close up.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2010 Channel 111
Humpback Whale tail fluke waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2010 Channel 140
A Humpback Whale throws its tail around and makes a big scene on the water.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail throw2010 Channel 146
Two Humpback Whales, side by side.
Megaptera novaeangliae two 2010 Channel 051

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2010 08-10 Far West SB Channel