2011 10-22 SB Channel

Humpback Whales surface lunge feeding on anchovies. Dolphins, sea lions and tons of birds working hot spots off the Ventura Coast. Click the "Map This" button to see where photos were taken.

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) crashing through the glassy surface to gulp down a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax). The pink soft palate of the upper jaw can be seen surrounded by the bushy baleen. Under the lower jaw, the ventral grooves are expanding as the whale engulfs hundreds of gallons of seawater full of fish. There are two whales cooperatively feeding in all these photographs.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 032
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) crashing through the glassy surface to gulp down a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax). In most of these images, flocks of gulls (Laridae) and other seabirds are picking up the scraps.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 024
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) head directly at the camera as they surface lunge feed together on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax). A juvenile gull (Larus sp.) is seen in the foreground.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 045
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) vertically lunge on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Larus 2011 Channel 070
Seawater sprays from the baleen plates in the upper jaw of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) as it vertically lunges on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 073
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) vertically lunge on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 062
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) vertically lunge on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax), joined by a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Zalophus 2011 Channel 023
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) vertically lunge on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax), joined by a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Delphinus 2011 Channel 068
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) vertically lunge on the surface to feed on a school of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 033
A close up look at the eye (closed) of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae eye 2011 Channel 035
Two California Sea Lions(Zalophus californianus) horsing around.
Zalophus californianus water 2011 Channel 005
A lone California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) takes a look at the camera.
Zalophus californianus water 2011 Channel 001
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel - 003
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 003
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel - 009
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 009
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel - 005
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 005
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel c - 001
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 001
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel a - 005
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 005
Delphinus capensis 2011 10-22 SB Channel c - 006
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 006
Pelecanus occidentalis 953 band 2011 10-22 SB Channel - 107
Pelecanus occidentalis 953 band 2011 Channel 107
Pelecanus occidentalis diving 2011 10-22 SB Channel - 001
Pelecanus occidentalis diving 2011 Channel 001
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) heads for another hot spot feeding area.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 007
Action on the feeding grounds...Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis), and various keen-eyed birds.
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus 2011 Channel 096
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus 2011 Channel 100
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus capensis 011 Channel 031
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 006
A Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around by wrapping itself with drifting Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae Macrocystis pyrifera 2011 Channel 002
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feed with an armada of birds.
Megaptera novaeangliae Larus 2011 Channel 095
A Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around by wrapping itself with drifting Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae Macrocystis pyrifera 2011 Channel 092
A Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around by wrapping itself with drifting Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae Macrocystis pyrifera 2011 Channel 005
The knobby-headed beast: A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) glides through the glassy water and shows off the tubercles on its rostrum.
Megaptera novaeangliae rostrum 2011 Channel 038
A Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding on the surface.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 002
A Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding on the surface. A lone surviving Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) can be seen leaping from the lips of the rear whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 011
Side view of a lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) .
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 007
Lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 015
Lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 016
Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) leap for their lives as two hungry lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) show their baleen plates.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 025
Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) leap for their lives as two hungry lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) show their baleen plates.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 026
A hungry lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) at work.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 034
Two lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) aim directly at the camera.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 046
A hungry lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) .
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 052
The beast emerges from the depths for a surprise attack.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 074
The large female Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) we know as "Rope," and a friend gobbled school after school of ancovies.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 001
Two feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and their entourage.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 054
Eye, lips, and expanded ventral grooves.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 076
An extreme close up view of the mouth, and in particular, the upper jaw, of a lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Water can be seen streaming off the baleen.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 086
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Delphinus 2011 Channel 042
Two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) being led by a squadron of Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Delphinus 2011 Channel 003
Various marine birds scramble for their lives as two Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) rise up from the deep for a surprise attack.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies Pelecanus 2011 Channel 057

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2011 10-22 SB Channel