2013 06-14 SB Channel

Surface lunge feeding humpback whales; common dolphins; a bald eagle...lots of thrillTwo humpback whales were observed gobbling down schools of anchovies with their surface lunge feeding again today. This is always dramatic. A whale we saw 2 years ago and nicknamed “Moustachio” was one of them. This whale has a very peculiar way of lunge feeding that involves between a 45 and 90 degree body angle breaking the water, mouth open. This involves mostly just the head region, and the the head is forced down almost like it was slapping its chin. Upon closer inspection we learned that Moustachio has very damaged baleen in the front, that causes the fibers to bend out of the mouth, and gives the appearance of a moustache. In reality, it ay be that Moustachio tried to chomp down on something large and solid, which permanently bent its baleen…hence the odd feeding method. John Calamobkidis checked the Cascadia database and 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."

The common dolphins were with us all day, numbers were hard to estimate, but let’s call it 3,000+.

"Moustachio," one of the feeding humpbacks that has damaged baleen was last photographed off the coast of Ventura.
http://www.condorexpressphotos.com/Other/2011-10-30-SB-Channel
..and seen a few days after today
http://www.condorexpressphotos.com/Other/2013-06-17-SB-Channel

A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flew around being chased by western gulls, then perched in this tree on Santa Cruz Island.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus number 2013 Sta Cruz Island 059
A common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) lays down a gentle bubble stream on a rippled surface.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 003
Two common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) torpedoes.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 016
The broad and powerful tail flukes of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and at the bottom of the shot, a common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Megaptera novaeangliae damaged baleen tail flukes 2013 Channel 001
A surface lunge feeding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) scatters the sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus).
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding 2013 Channel 001
Underside of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail.
Megaptera novaeangliae damaged baleen tail flukes 2013 Channel 004
Image 1 of 2: A surface lunge feeding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) nick named "Moustachio" because of its outwardly projecting, damaged frontal baleen.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding damaged baleen 2013 Channel 015
Image 2 of 2: A surface lunge feeding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) splashes back down into the ocean.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding damaged baleen 2013 Channel 019
Why do the sea birds always seem to rest on the white rocks? Brandt's cormorants (Phalocrocorax penicillatus) on Santa Cruz Island.
Phalocrocorax penicillatus white rocky ledge 2013 Sta Cruz Island 002
The same surface lunge feeding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with damaged baleen, viewed from the side.
Megaptera novaeangliae surface lunge feeding damaged baleen 2013 Channel 002
An abstract look at two common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) in turquoise water with rippled surface.
abstract Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 011
Our friends from New Zealand and beyond: sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) come to the Channel to feed and moult. For the complete story, read this scientific journal article: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/34/12799.full.pdf+html
Puffinus griseus flock water 2013 Channel 146
A common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) starts a dive.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 004

© Robert Perry

Mr.Zalophus@gmail.com Please click on the sea lion head logo above to go to my MarineBioPhotography website.

2013 06-14 SB Channel