2014 06-11 SB Channel

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We left Santa Barbara Harbor with mirror glass sea conditions and a thick marine layer over head. About 15 minutes out the crew spotted bird and dolphin activity that would continue throughout the trip. Again we see a large number of huge northern anchovy schools in the water and the dolphins, sea lions and birds have them gathered up into balls. These bait balls were like stepping stones across the flat calm ocean in all directions. We knew all the signs were right for a humpback whale sighting and, sure enough, we soon were closely watching a mother-calf humpback pair. The young calf was particularly active as it swam close to its mother. It lifted its chin, rolled upside down. slapped its pectoral fins, threw its tail around a bit and even attempted a couple of half-hearted breaches. The high point of this encounter was when the pair surfaced within a few feet of our port side and slowly swam along with the Condor Express. Both whales had their entire bodies visible in the clear water. The overcast skies actually enhanced the experience as there was little or no glare making every tubercle on their rostrums come into sharp focus. Soon we were watching a second mother-calf humpback pair. This mother was HUGE, and her calf was not as animated as the original calf...at least at first. Before too long the 4 whales were in relative close proximity. It should be noted that the pectoral fin slapping and tail throwing from the original calf was followed, after a while, by similar behavior from its mother. The mother was completely upside down and seemed to be "giving a lesson" to junior as to how to slap a pectoral fin frontally then laterally so a big splash could be seen in both directions in her range of motion. A very large ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and several egg yolk or fried egg jellies (Phacellophora camtschatica) were also observed on the surface during this morning trip.

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I love seeing these beasts down there swimming in the clear blue water.
Megaptera novaeangliae uw CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-036
Megaptera novaeangliae CLOSE 2014 Channel 036
One of several tail throws by an energetic humpback calf.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-615
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 Channel 615
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-038
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 038
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-314
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 Channel 314
A large humpback female and her calf are seen underwater.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-031
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 031
A waterfall sculpture featuring a live humpback whale in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2014 06-11 SB Channel-650
Megaptera novaeangliae tail fluke waterfall 2014 Channel 650
The little humpback that never quits.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-273
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 Channel 273
Humpback calf seen under the clear water.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-024
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 024
A half hearted breach by a humpback calf. (The top of the rostrum is to the left, and the ventral grooves are seen to the right)
Megaptera novaeangliae calf spy hop 2014 06-11 SB Channel-336
Megaptera novaeangliae calf spy hop 2014 Channel 336
Humans and friendly humpbacks have a love fest.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-003
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 003
Action on the feeding grounds: a common dolphin, an adult female humpback whale and her calf (rolling over with long pectoral fins in the air)
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf & Delphinus 2014 06-11 SB Channel-111
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf Delphinus 2014 Channel 111
A young humpback whale calf says "hi."
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-010
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 010
One of the humpback whale calves does an "El Rollo."
Megaptera novaeangliae calf on back 2014 06-11 SB Channel-256
Megaptera novaeangliae calf back 2014 Channel 256
Mom and her calf and their fan club.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf whole body CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-007
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf whole body CLOSE 2014 Channel 007
Two humpback whales and twelve human beings.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf & passengers 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-069
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf passengers 2014 Channel 069
Double pectoral fin fun: mom and her calf roll over and show their fins at the same time!
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf simultaneous pectoral slaps 2014 06-11 SB Channel-410
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf simultaneous pectoral slaps 2014 Channel 410
A line of orange barnacles is seen along the ventral grooves of a humpback whale that has rolled over upside down. Havin' fun on a day with calm seas.
Megaptera novaeangliae ventral grooves upside down 2014 06-11 SB Channel-B-003
Megaptera novaeangliae ventral grooves upside down 2014 Channel 003
Humpback calf sets off a nice splash after landing a mini-breach.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach 2014 06-11 SB Channel-003
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach 2014 Channel 003
Whales watch humans watching whales. That's what it's all about on the Condor Express.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow-calf & passengers 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-067
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf passengers 2014 Channel 067
Junior begins another tail throw episode. Great exercise for this young one.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-267
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 Channel 267
Mom and calf side by side...left view.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf 2014 06-11 SB Channel-511
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf 2014 Channel 511
Mom and calf side by side...right view.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf 2014 06-11 SB Channel-049
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf 2014 Channel 049
The humpback calf has rolled over on its side as mom cruises alongside.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf on side pectoral in air 2014 06-11 SB Channel-487
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf side pectoral air 2014 Channel 487
Extreme close up #1 - Mom in the foreground shows ventral grooves and pectoral fin. Calf in the background begins another tail throw.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral & calf tail throw CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-399
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral calf tail throw CLOSE 2014 Channel 399
Extreme close up #2 - Mom waves her long white pectoral fins as her calf swims close by her on its side, showing half of its tail flukes.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow on back pectoral & calf rolling tail fluke 2014 06-11 SB Channel-419
Megaptera novaeangliae cow back pectoral calf rolling tail fluke 2014 Channel 419
Pectoral fin comparison - Mom in back and calf in front.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral & calf rolling 2014 06-11 SB Channel-287
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral calf rolling 2014 Channel 287
Extreme close up #3 - ventral grooves and left arm pit.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow ventral grooves 2014 06-11 SB Channel-291
Megaptera novaeangliae cow ventral grooves 2014 Channel 291
The chin of a humpback whale calf with tubercles, ventral grooves and barnacles.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf chin 2014 06-11 SB Channel-552
Megaptera novaeangliae calf chin 2014 Channel 552
Extreme close up #4 - whale on its right side zoomed in on chin. The left eyeball is the mound to the right top section of the animal.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf on side CLOSE 2014 06-11 SB Channel-556
Megaptera novaeangliae calf side CLOSE 2014 Channel 556
Humpback whale calf mini-breach.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach 2014 06-11 SB Channel-001
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach 2014 Channel 001
Humpback whale calf does a half breach perhaps in response to the passing common dolphins.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach & Delphinus 2014 06-11 SB Channel-339
Megaptera novaeangliae calf breach Delphinus 2014 Channel 339
Humpback calf spy hops near another common dolphin.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf spy hop 2014 06-11 SB Channel-002
Megaptera novaeangliae calf spy hop 2014 Channel 002
A friendly approach by a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers 2014 06-11 SB Channel-a-013
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2014 Channel 013
Young humpback whale calf - pectoral fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf pectoral fin in air 2014 06-11 SB Channel-173
Megaptera novaeangliae calf pectoral fin air 2014 Channel 173
Adult humpback whale - pectoral fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral fin in air 2014 06-11 SB Channel-247
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral fin air 2014 Channel 247
Adult humpback whale begins to lift its tail at the start of a terminal dive.
Megaptera novaeangliae tail flukes 2014 06-11 SB Channel-013
Megaptera novaeangliae tail flukes 2014 Channel 013
Humpback whale calf - tail lobbing.
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-126
Megaptera novaeangliae calf tail throw 2014 Channel 126
Humpback calf lobs tail as mother swims nearby.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow & calf tail throw 2014 06-11 SB Channel-207
Megaptera novaeangliae cow calf tail throw 2014 Channel 207
Another adult humpback slaps its long pectoral fins as a common dolphin passes by.
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral & Delphinus 2014 06-11 SB Channel-388
Megaptera novaeangliae cow pectoral Delphinus 2014 Channel 388
Leaping common dolphin.
Delphinus capensis 2014 06-11 SB Channel-c-134
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 134
Headshot - common dolphin.
Delphinus capensis 2014 06-11 SB Channel-c-056
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 056
A common dolphin emits a small stream of bubbles.
Delphinus capensis 2014 06-11 SB Channel-c-011
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 011
Jumping common dolphin.
Delphinus capensis 2014 06-11 SB Channel-c-151
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 151
Egg yolk or fried egg jelly.
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 06-11 SB Channel-060
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 Channel 060
Egg yolk or fried egg jelly.
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 06-11 SB Channel-082
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 Channel 082
Egg yolk or fried egg jelly.
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 06-11 SB Channel-015
Phacellophora camtschatica 2014 Channel 015
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
Mola mola 2014 06-11 SB Channel-007
mola 2014 Channel 007
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
Mola mola 2014 06-11 SB Channel-107
mola 2014 Channel 107

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2014 06-11 SB Channel

Photograph locations from camera's GPS