2014 09-11 SB Channel
Blue sky, blue water. A light breeze and light chop. Warm and sunny. As we approached our first whale encounter in the northeastern Santa Barbara Channel, I knew we were getting close by the smell. Lingering on the breeze was the characteristic “Essence d’Humpback” (not sold in stores). Sure enough it was that large female humpback and her white-on-both-sides calf…the same calf I called the “Energizer Bunny” last week when it breached for an hour and a half non stop. And if anything can annoy a juvenile humpback whale and fire up its batteries, it’s a large pack of pesky California sea lions. There was a gang of sea lions with over 50+ animals strong that were following the humpbacks, diving down together and surfacing together. The furry brown pinnipeds were no doubt feeding on the same abundant northern anchovy schools as the cetaceans. So as if on queue, the Energizer Bunny gave its fan club on the Condor Express quite a show with at least 22+ tail throws and lob tails which we all assumed was to fend off the sea lion troop. (to show mercy, I've only included a select few of the best tail throw photos below). Mom slammed her big tail flukes once too, and then another where her tail fluke vibrated up and down and had you mesmerized. Later the calf would add rolling around and pectoral fin slapping to its performance, and at one point, later in the day. Speaking of northern anchovies and food for all the predators (black vented shearwaters, elegant terns, sea lions, Brandt’s cormorants, Heermann’s gulls, western gulls, Minke whales and long-beaked common dolphins) there were several large schools evident on the surface today as they leaped in unison to escape whatever it was attacking them from below. This is a good sign that our Fall season is shaping up to be a good one with abundant bait on the surface to entice all sorts of feeding behavior from the humpback throngs.
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A California sea lion comes over to keep an eye on the camera
Zalophus californianus 2014 09-11 SB Channel-z-001
White pectorals waving high
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-028
Spray flies as a long pectoral fin aims for the surface of the water
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-048
California sea lions mob a humpback whale
Zalophus californianus mob & Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-007
California sea lions mob a humpback whale
Zalophus californianus mob & Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-023
Brandt's cormorants find themselves very close to the mother humpback and her calf
Megaptera novaeangliae & Phalocrocorax 2014 09-11 SB Channel-007
Humpback whale spout in the afternoon breeze - Santa Barbara Channel
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-001
A smoke trail is left as a humpback whale heads into the wind
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-018
Pectoral fin waterfall
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-059
Humpback whale calf pushes a nice bow wave ahead of itself
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-L-094
Here it comes ! A humpback makes a friendly close approach and shows us its knobby rostrum
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-x-013
A very close look at the humpback calf on its side with left pectoral waving at you
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-11 SB Channel-x-023
Image 1 of 2 - Minke whale with a "chip" missing from dorsal fin tip
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 09-11 SB Channel-x-002
Image 2 of 2 - Minke whale with a "chip" missing from dorsal fin tip
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 09-11 SB Channel-x-005
