2011 10-30 SB Channel

Humpbacks feeding on northern anchovy schools on a warm, sunny, no-wind day. Common dolphins and sea lions joined the birds in massive feeding hot spots. Note that several of these photographs show a whale with damaged baleen. John Calambokidis from Cascadia Research has identified this whale as CRC ID 10904. "It has been seen going back to 1995 mostly off S California but also up to northern California. Damaged baleen apparent in the 2011 photos but earlier photos do not show enough to tell condition." This whale was seen several times by us, including

http://www.condorexpressphotos.com/Other/2013-06-14-SB-Channel

Thousands of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) leap for their lives as two behemouth Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feed on a massive school of these bait fish. In the back youcan see a couple of Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) picking up the scraps.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 025
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) on a mirror glass ocean.
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 032
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) swimming in crystal blue waters on a sunny day in paradise.
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 002
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) engaged in underwater play.
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 065
Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) engaged in underwater play.
Delphinus capensis mating 2011 Channel 064
A lone pirate sails into Santa Barbara Harbor. Haaaargh, matey !
boy pirate sailboat 2011 Harbor 002
A close up look at a bubbling Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 009
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) emits a long bubble stream.
Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 061
If you look closely you will see the head of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) under the water.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 146
Lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The whale on the right has a damaged soft palate and bent baleen near the front of its mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 013
Three lunge feeding Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 012
Spout from a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) runs tall and straight in relatively calm winds.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 002
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in the middle of a hot spot.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 018
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in the middle of a hot spot.
Megaptera novaeangliae lunge feeding birds 2011 Channel 100
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in the middle of a hot spot.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 020
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding on Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) which can be seen spilling out of the whales mouths all around.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 023
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) spy hops. This is the whale with damaged baleen protruding from its mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop 2011 Channel 034
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae 2011 Channel 053
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in the middle of a hot spot.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 021
Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) can be seen inside the mouth of a lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 042
Two Humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) and three Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 014
In addition to the thousands of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) seen spilling out of the mouths of these Humbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae), the whale on the left has a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) inside its mouth. This is the wide angle version. The next image will show a close view of this pelican.
Megaptera novaeangliae Pelecanus mouth 2011 Channel 030WIDE
In addition to the thousands of Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax) seen spilling out of the mouths of these Humbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae), the whale on the left has a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) inside its mouth. This is the close up version. The previous image shows a wide angle view.
Megaptera novaeangliae Pelecanus mouth 2011 Channel 030CLOSE
Humbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) surface lunge feeding in unison.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 004
Three Humbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) surface lunge feeding in unison.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 008
Two Humbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) surface lunge feeding and a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 026
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) rides the bow wake of a Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 023
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) rides the bow wake of a Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae Delphinus capensis 2011 Channel 021
A whale photographer waves at the camera. :-)
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2011 Channel 002
Tail of a Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke 2011 Channel 019
A Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) slaps its pectoral fin. The western Ventura coast is seen in back.
Megaptera novaeangliae pectoral slap 2011 Channel 012
Spyhopping Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae spyhop 2011 Channel 109
Side look at a lunge feeding Humback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding anchovies 2011 Channel 040
Platform Hogan.
Platform Hogan 2011 Channel 002
Platform Houchin.
Platform Houchin 2011 Channel 010
Close up look at Platform Houchin.
Platform Houchin CLOSE 2011 Channel 002
A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) relaxes in a drifting paddy of kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera and Nereocystis lutkeana).
Zalophus californianus resting kelp paddy 2011 Channel 005
The oil spill response vessel "Clean Seas" deploys a containment buoy as part of a practice drill off the coast of Santa Barbara.
Vessel Clean Seas oil containment boom 2011 Channel 040

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2011 10-30 SB Channel