A lone body surfer in the surf gets an up close view of two migrating gray whales. (One whale is up and the other is underwater to the left of it)

Eschrichtius robustus & swimmer in water 2014 04-17 SB Coast-063

Eschrichtiusrobustusswimmerwater2014Coast063

A northbound gray whale is seen very close to the rocks in shallow water at Campus Point, UCSB.

Eschrichtius robustus cow & calf at Campus Point 2014 04-17 SB Coast-045

EschrichtiusrobustuscowcalfCampusPoint2014Coast045

A lone dog on the beach does a little whale watching.

Eschrichtius robustus & dog on beach 2014 04-17 SB Coast-047

Eschrichtiusrobustusdogbeach2014Coast047

A gray whale very close to shore is watched by people on the bluff.

Eschrichtius robustus & people on bluff 2014 04-17 SB Coast-062

Eschrichtiusrobustuspeoplebluff2014Coast062

Two gray whales: A calf is hidden behind its mother but is spouting.

Eschrichtius robustus cow & calf near beach 2014 04-17 SB Coast-015

Eschrichtiusrobustuscowcalfnearbeach2014Coast015

Gray whales in the kelp forest - one raises its head out of the water.

Eschrichtius robustus head lift in Macrocystis 2014 04-17 SB Coast-078

EschrichtiusrobustusheadliftMacrocystis2014Coast078

Mother (front) and her calf (spouting) gray whales.

Eschrichtius robustus cow & calf spouting 2014 04-17 SB Coast-025

Eschrichtiusrobustuscowcalfspouting2014Coast025

Image 1 of 2: a gray whale is seen on its side with its mouth open. Questions are raised about why.

Eschrichtius robustus on side mouth open 2014 04-17 SB Coast-074

Eschrichtiusrobustussidemouthopen2014Coast074

Image 2 of 2: a gray whale is seen on its side with its mouth open. Questions are raised about why.

Eschrichtius robustus on side mouth open 2014 04-17 SB Coast-075

Eschrichtiusrobustussidemouthopen2014Coast075

The rostrum of a gray whale is seen under the clear blue water. Air is just beginning to exit the blow holes at the start of a spout.

Eschrichtius robustus head UW and spout 2014 04-17 SB Coast-022

Eschrichtiusrobustusheadandspout2014Coast022

Spouting gray whale.

Eschrichtius robustus cow spout & calf UW 2014 04-17 SB Coast-023

Eschrichtiusrobustuscowspoutcalf2014Coast023

Gray whale mother and calf with Brandt's cormorants in the background.

Eschrichtius robustus cow & calf spouting & Phalocrocorax 2014 04-17 SB Coast-114

EschrichtiusrobustuscowcalfspoutingPhalocrocorax2014Coast114

A gray whale is seen rolling over on its left side, exposing its right pectoral fin.

Eschrichtius robustus pectoral fin in air 2014 04-17 SB Coast-090

Eschrichtiusrobustuspectoralfinair2014Coast090

A gray whale in the giant kelp forest with two Brandt's cormorants.

Eschrichtius robustus Phalocrocorax Macrocystis 2014 04-17 SB Coast-138

EschrichtiusrobustusPhalocrocoraxMacrocystis2014Coast138

Gray whale, giant kelp, cormorants and a brown pelican.

Eschrichtius robustus Phalocrocorax Pelecanus Macrocystis 2014 04-17 SB Coast-132

EschrichtiusrobustusPhalocrocoraxPelecanusMacrocystis2014Coast132

Nursing in the kelp? The youngster is on its side next to mom with its pectoral fin in the air. Cormorants and a western gull are seen in the background.

Eschrichtius robustus Phalocrocorax Macrocystis 2014 04-17 SB Coast-137

EschrichtiusrobustusPhalocrocoraxMacrocystis2014Coast137

Side view of a spouting gray whale.

Eschrichtius robustus spout 2014 04-17 SB Coast-122

Eschrichtiusrobustusspout2014Coast122

Gray whale and cormorant.

Eschrichtius robustus spout & Phalocrocorax 2014 04-17 SB Coast-127

EschrichtiusrobustusspoutPhalocrocorax2014Coast127

A gray whale spouts as it swims along the outer edge of the kelp forest.

Eschrichtius robustus spout Macrocystis Larus 2014 04-17 SB Coast-146

EschrichtiusrobustusspoutMacrocystisLarus2014Coast146

An underwater look at a gray whale.

Eschrichtius robustus UW 2014 04-17 SB Coast-021

Eschrichtiusrobustus2014Coast021

Three gray whales.

Eschrichtius robustus three 2014 04-17 SB Coast-084

Eschrichtiusrobustusthree2014Coast084

Two bottle nose dolphins in the giant kelp forest.

Tursiops in Macrocystis 2014 04-17 SB Coast-002

TursiopsMacrocystis2014Coast002

Image 1 of 2: The surface canopy of a giant kelp forest.

Macrocystis pyrifera canopy abstract 2014 04-17 SB Coast-004

Macrocystispyriferacanopyabstract2014Coast004

Image 2 of 2: The surface canopy of a giant kelp forest.

Macrocystis pyrifera canopy abstract 2014 04-17 SB Coast-009

Macrocystispyriferacanopyabstract2014Coast009