2012 02-04 SB Channel

Mother and calf Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) on a wave.

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A Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) takes a leap.

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A gang of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus), resting in a large drifting paddy of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), crane their necks and turn their attention to a large, light colored object seen at the top of this photograph. It was a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) swimming beneath the surface.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts with beautiful Santa Cruz Island in the background. You can just barely see the buildings at Christie Ranch to the right.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lifts its head up an spouts.

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A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at Santa Cruz Island.

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Delphinus capensis 2012 02-04 SB Channel-009

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) on a wave.

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis)

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis)

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) spouting.

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).

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Mother (up) and calf (down) Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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Mother (up) and calf (down) Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) spout together.

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Mother and calf Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) play underwater.

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) under the waves.

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An abstract with Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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A Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus) seen under the waves.

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Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) on a choppy surface.

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Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).

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Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).

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Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).

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A Brown Pelican (Pelelcanus occidentalis) catches the afternoon sunlight as it comes in for a landing on the water.

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A high-speed visit by a Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).

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Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).

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NOAA oceanographic buoy 46053, East Santa Barbara Channel. This buoy collects weather and sea condition data and uploads it to the internet in near real-time. You can see the data from this buoy at http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46053

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A Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) pays a friendly visit to the whale watchers on board the Condor Express.

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A wave at Frasier Point, Santa Cruz Island.

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A wave at Frasier Point, Santa Cruz Island.

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California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) relax in a comfortable Giant Kelp paddy (Macrocystis pyrifera).

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A Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).

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