2012 12-08 SB Channel

Image 1 of 2: a short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphins) takes a leap. This is the wide view. The next image in this series is a close view of the same shot.

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Image 2 of 2: a short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphins) takes a leap. This is the close up view. The previous image in this series is a wide view of the same shot.

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Jack Frost. Jack is a male humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) with frosty white scars all across his back...hence the name.

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Everything is bright and green at Scorpion landing on Sta Cruz Island.

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My personal favorite from the old days, Potato Harbor at Sta Cruz Island. I remember in the 80's diving off the point to the left and taking a photograph of my friend big Ed Galvan who had picked up a blue knobby sea star (Pisaster giganteus capitatus) that was at least 3 feet in diameter. I used it for my Christmas cards that year.

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Long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) feeding on northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) which can be seen leaping out of the water to escape.

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The view from San Pedro Point to Scorpion, Santa Cruz Island.

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The massive all white tail of Jack Frost, the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), creates a water fall.

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Scorpion Rock, Santa Cruz Island, from the east.

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A brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) with a mouth full of anchovies.

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Long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) feeding on northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) which can be seen leaping out of the water to escape.

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Cast of characters on the feeding grounds: long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) in front; a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in the left middle; and brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the back.

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Long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) feeding on northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) which can be seen swimming across the back of the submerged dolphins.

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Short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) leap in unison.

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A stampede of short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).

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Condor Express people get a first hand look at a massive herd of short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).

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Part of the big herd of short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis)

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A short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) takes a leap.

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Side by side jumping short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).

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Big herd of short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).

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A very acrobatic short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

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Leaping short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

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Jumping short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

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A wide line of traveling short beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). The Santa Ynez mountains behind Santa Barbara on the mainland coast is seen in the background behind the container cargo ship.

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Jack Frost the humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) shows up in the middle of an oceanic hot spot to share in the bounty.

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A freely drifting open ocean giant kelp debris paddy (Macrocystis pyrifera) hosts numerous California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and a flock of gulls (Larus sp.).

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Condor Express people get a wonderful look at Jack the humpback (Megaptera novaengliae) accompanied by several long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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Jack the humpback (Megaptera novaengliae) sends up a tall spout right in front of the Condor Express and is accompanied by several long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis).

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The white stripe of scars down Jack Frost's back is seen under the water as the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) arrives at an oceanic hot spot indicated by all the sea birds.

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Jack the humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) takes a look at the people. CINC naturalists Brian and Anna are seen on deck.

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Jack Frost the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) dives deep.

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Part of a huge flock of surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) is seen in flight.

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A male surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata).

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Jack's back. The white scar tissue of this male humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and dorsal fin is seen up close.

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A small area of a giant flock of surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata).

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Light and dark cloud patterns on the ocean surface.

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A Heermann's gull (Larus heermanni) attempts to steal fish out of the beak of a brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis).

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Two brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) dip their long beaks into a school of northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) seen jumping to escape predatory long beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) below the surface.

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