2013 07-01 SB Channel

Although the NOAA worst-case scenario marine forecast was sketchy, it turned out to be a great day for cetacean watching on the Channel today. Captain Dave ran the Condor Express and steered a course for the middle of the Channel where great humpback behaviors were encountered yesterday. These humpbacks are moving around a lot feeding on spontaneous patches of northern anchovies, so nobody was home in yesterday's area. We did have three nice pods of common dolphins, and the third herd was at least 2,000 animals strong. The sun was out. The water was fairly clear. And the dolphin sightings were very good. But now we needed some larger, knobby headed beasts.

Before too long, the keen eyes of second captain and deck man, Eric, thought he had a humpback whale spout about two miles west of the boat. Sure enough, when we got to the location it was a single adult humpback whale. Within a few breathing cycles the humpback found the large drifting paddy of giant kelp that I was shooting (because it had a very vocal sea lion relaxing in its midst). The whale proceeded to roll around, flap its flippers, kick up its flukes and scare the daylights out of the little sea lions. Whale watchers call this behavior "kelping." The show continued for almost a half hour....and it was all right smack dab next to the Condor Express.

After a while the humpback whale had totally destroyed the kelp paddy and lost interest in the vegetation. It got back on its easterly migration path and looked for all the world like a whale on a mission. So Captain Dave then took us all to the western end of beautiful Santa Cruz Island and the world famous Painted Cave. However, en route to the island we encountered two large ocean sunfish (or Mola mola, to use their scientific name). One was an absolute beast and we all got great looks as it stayed about 10 feet off our port beam, on the surface, enjoying the bright sunshine.

Be sure to click on "Map This" to find the locations of these photos.

Whole body view of an ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
mola CLOSE 2013 Channel 107
Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae plays kelp Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 550
A quartet of common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) leaping across the waves.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 034
Two common dolphins (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 030
A leaping common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 013
Common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) ride the bow of the Condor Express.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 055
A close look at the head of a surfing common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 042
A very close up shot of a common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) bubbling up to the surface.
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 011
A surfing common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 114
Surfing common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
Delphinus capensis 2013 Channel 013
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 009
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 010
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 051
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 044
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 057
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 056
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 058
A Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 072
Grampus griseus 2013 07-01 SB Channel-080
Grampus griseus 2013 Channel 080
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 019
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae) and some human beings (Homo sapiens).
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2013 Channel 003
A very close look at a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae) as it rolls on its left side - Rostrum on top, mouth, then barnacles on chin.
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 022
A Condor express whale watcher gets a great look at the entire body of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae) in clear, blue water.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2013 Channel 001
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae)
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 040
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae)
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 043
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae)
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 026
Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 003
Big tail flukes of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 063
Curved tail flukes of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2013 Channel 067
Sideways head shot - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 006
Flying the flags - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 016
Flying the flags - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 017
Pectoral and tail fins, whale on its right side - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 022
Pectoral and tail fins - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 025
Whale upside down, head view - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 056
Tail fluke - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 073
Dorsal fin - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 082
Thrashing the salad - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 076
Whale on right side, head first - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 096
Whale's rostrum and chin - leaning on left side - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 119
Head - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 159
Head and blowholes - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 168
Rolling around - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 192
Dorsal surface - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 226
Pectoral flipper - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 245
Pectoral flipper - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 252
Crown of kelp - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 349
Ring of kelp - Kelping behavior - a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays around in a large drifting, detached paddy of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Megaptera novaeangliae kelp paddy Macrocystis pyrifera 2013 Channel 363

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2013 07-01 SB Channel