2012 05-12 SB Channel

Looking into the mouth of a feeding Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The pink soft palate of the roof of the mouth can be seen fringed with baleen, as water drips off. The ventral grooves below the jaw are expanding, as this animal engulfs seawater and krill (Thysanoessa spinifera).

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A male and a female California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) hauled out on the rocks in the entrance to the Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island.

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A view of the ventral (belly) side of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The ventral grooves have accordioned out and water is being ejected from the mouth. The left pectoral fin is seen in front.

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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail fluke waterfall.

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Ka-boom. A 40-ton Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) hits the water after being airborn during a breach.

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Beautiful Frasier Point, Santa Cruz Island, is seen in the background as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and flocks of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) feed on krill. You can see the upper jaw with its baleen out of the water as the whale lunge feeds on the surface.

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Looking from tail to head as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) concludes a forward lunge, feeding on krill Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) scatter to escape. The raised splashguard and twin blowholes are visible.

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A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunges forward to feed and spouts at the same time. Most of these photos show thousands of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) sittting on the water.

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Image 1 of 2: The left side of the head, mouth and eyeball, are shown as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) takes in a mouthfull of water and krill.

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Image 2 of 2: The left side of the head, mouth and eyeball, are shown as a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) takes in a mouthfull of water and krill.

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Another lunge, more Shearwaters. The knobby rostrum of the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is seen as water streams out of the mouth.

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A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) has rolled over on its right side and is lunge feeding on krill. The knobby rostrum is visible.

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Left side profile of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). A piece of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is draped across the back. Humpbacks, like many species of marine mammal, enjoy interacting with Giant Kelp.

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Part of a large flock of Red-Necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) resting on the surface, pecking at krill.

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This elusive Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) has an unusual notch at the base of its dorsal fin.

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A Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).

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Two Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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Close up look at a Long-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).

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Long-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus capensis) visit the Condor Express.

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