2011 03-26 SB Channel

Spectacular Breaching Gray Whale, close looks at Grays and very friendly Humpback Whales !

A very close look at a Pacific Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouting.
Eschrichtius robustus spouting CLOSE 2011 Channel 020
Breach Sequence image 1 of 3: Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) gets some air off the coast of Santa Barbara.
Eschrichtius robustus breach seq 2011 Channel 036
Breach Sequence image 2 of 3: Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) gets some air off the coast of Santa Barbara.
Eschrichtius robustus breach seq 2011 Channel 037
Breach Sequence image 3 of 3: Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) splashdown.
Eschrichtius robustus breach seq 2011 Channel 038
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers CLOSE 2011 03-26 SB Channel a - 004
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers CLOSE 2011 Channel 004
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers CLOSE 2011 03-26 SB Channel a - 035
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers CLOSE 2011 Channel 035
Megaptera novaeangliae 2 & passengers CLOSE 2011 03-26 SB Channel a - 065
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers CLOSE 2011 Channel 065
A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) exhibits what we call "snorkeling" behavior...breathing without spouting, and only the very top of the splashguard pokes out of the water. Very stealthy.
Eschrichtius robustus bubbling CLOSE 2011 Channel 019
A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts with Platform Habitat in the back.
Eschrichtius robustus Platform Habitat 2011 Channel 115
Close view of the head (underwater) and splashguard of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).
Eschrichtius robustus CLOSE 2011 Channel 013
The ventral ("chin") side of this Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is visible as it performs a "half-breach." Santa Barbara Harbor is in the background.
Eschrichtius robustus half breach ventral 2011 Channel 041
An even closer look at a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) head and splashguard.
Eschrichtius robustus head CLOSE 2011 Channel 023
The right flanks of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus). The patterns of spots are used by researchers to identify and track individual Grays.
Eschrichtius robustus right flank CLOSE 2011 Channel 029
Spouting Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).
Eschrichtius robustus spout Sta Ynez Mtns 2011 Channel 089
For comparison purposes, here's a close look at the tail flukes of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus). See the same view of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the next image.
Eschrichtius robustus tail fluke waterfall CLOSE 2011 Channel 033
For comparison purposes, here's a close look at the tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). See the same view of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in the previous image.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke CLOSE 2011 Channel 076
A trio of Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) heading west in the Santa Barbara Channel outside of Platform Habitat.
Eschrichtius robustus THREE Platform Habitat 2011 Channel 162
A close look at three Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus).
Eschrichtius robustus THREE 2011 Channel 105
Three Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus), and one starts a deep dive.
Eschrichtius robustus THREE 2011 Channel 110
Tail flukes of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) show a distinctive pattern of colors and scalloping. The underside of the Humpback tail, as shown here, is how researchers indentify and track individuals.
Megaptera tail fluke CLOSE 2011 Channel 044
Another unique Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke CLOSE 2011 Channel 086
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail flukes waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall CLOSE 2011 Channel 085
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) side by side.
Megaptera novaeangliae TWO 2011 Channel 064

Please click on the image above to be transported to my NATURAL PHOTOGRAPHICS stock images website.

2011 03-26 SB Channel

Today's Locations: