2011 06-25 SB Channel

Blue Whale mother & calf; Humpback Whale mother & calf, and both species feeding on krill on the surface. Three trips today: two oil seep tours up to Platform Holly, and an afternoon whale watch in the breeze.

A very tiny Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf. For you Condor Express veterans, this calf is the child of "Rope," a mature female we have seen almost every season for the past 9 or 10 years. Rope gets her name from the fact that she was entangled in fishing gear and had a rope tightly wound around her when she was first identified. She somehow shed the rope and is left with a prominent scar around her body which is how we identify her nowadays. This is her 3rd calf in ten years.
Megaptera novaeangliae JUV Rope 2011 Channel 091
Abstract: Ocean Surface.
abstract ocean surface 2011 Channel 065
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) spouts in the wind.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 001
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) on its side, showing its left pectoral fin, after a lunge.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 016
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus): long and lean on a windy day.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 005
Very close look at a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) spout.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 022
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) lunge feeding.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 027
The flat, spoon shaped head of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 045
The entire outline of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) as it turns left and spouts.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 031
Windy day - Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 041
Lunge feeding Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 057
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) spouting behind the waves on a windy day.
Balaenoptera musculus 2011 Channel 063
Mother and her calf - Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus cow calf 2011 Channel 029
Mother (left) and her calf - Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus cow calf 2011 Channel 035
Head on view of a juvenile Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus JUV 2011 Channel 012
Belly side of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) showing its ventral grooves during lunge feeding.
Balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding 2011 Channel 054
A Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) rolls over after feeding. The left pectoral fin can be seen on top.
Balaenoptera musculus rolling 2011 Channel 015
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) smoke stack.
Balaenoptera musculus spout 2011 Channel 028
Ocean Surface with people.
abstract ocean surface passengers 2011 Channel 031
Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 019
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 005
A Blue Whale expels water from its giant mouth to filter out the krill.
Balaenoptera musculus lunge feeding 2011 Channel 055
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis TWO 2011 Channel 009
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis TWO 2011 Channel 033
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis FOUR 2011 Channel 050
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis TWO 2011 Channel 016
Abstract: Ocean Surface.
abstract ocean surface 2011 Channel 095
Tip of the rostrum of a juvenile Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 053
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) spouts in the breeze.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 001
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) swims broadside to the swell and spouts.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 022
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and friend (California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus).
Megaptera novaeangliae Zalophus 2011 Channel 001
Mother Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and her calf. The mother is a whale we see every year, nick named "rope."
Megaptera novaeangliae Rope calf 2011 Channel 133
Mother and calf Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf Zalophus 2011 Channel 058
Mother (underwater) and her calf Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae Rope JUV 2011 Channel 096
Abstract: Ocean Surface.
abstract ocean surface 2011 Channel 007
Sailing vessel Alchemy.
vessel sailboat Alchemy 2011 Channel 007
Venoco's man, Jim Vest, on Platform Holly.
worker JIM Platform Holly 2011 Channel 013
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) on mooring can.
Zalophus californianus mooring can 2011 Channel 002
A young California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) on the buoy marking the underwater gas collecting seep tents.
Zalophus californianus seep tent buoy 2011 Channel 006
A raft of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).
Zalophus californianus rafting 2011 Channel 012
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) jam the stairs on Platform Holly.
Zalophus californianus Platform Holly 2011 Channel 005

© Robert Perry

Mr.Zalophus@gmail.com Please click on the sea lion head logo above to go to my MarineBioPhotography website.

2011 06-25 SB Channel