2015 07-29 SB Channel East
By 1110am we found a nice batch of cetaceans between Habitat and the Lanes. In this region we had great looks at 3 Minke whales, one of which was a very small juvenile. All sightings of these Minke's were fairly near the Condor Express. In addition, a very large 50-foot+ humpback whale popped up. The humpback was pretty steady on an easterly migration until the following incident took place which really made our day.
Ahead of the migrating humpback whale was a medium-sized detached floating giant kelp paddy with a couple of gulls resting on it. Knowing humpbacks proclivity for interaction with kelp, we kept a keen eye on the line of this #whales footprints on the glassy surface. Sure enough, we projected the whale might pass close by the algae. Keeping our eyes, binoculars and telephoto lenses focused on the seaweed, our anticipation and planning soon paid off as this 50-ton beast went right into it and draped kelp stipes all over its back. We call this behavior "kelping."
But wait, there is more. Not only did the beast roll around and really enjoy the algae but it wrapped it around its long pectoral fins and began to slap the water as you can see in my photograph above. Soon the tail flukes were engulfed too, and there were a few spy hops as well. The whale's head was lifted out of the water, its long pectorals splayed out wide to the sides, and it slowly sank down into the giant kelp paddy backwards. The pectorals helped by sculling the water and forcing the whale to go in reverse. As this was going on, we noticed the whale was gyrating its tail in the salad fixings. I'm going to guess this seaweed must feel pretty darned good on the skin of a whale that has a few external parasites and no hands or fingers to scratch where it itches the most. We had no idea that the new twerking craze had finally hit the humpbacks in the Santa Barbara Channel.
As this whale finally got back on its eastern track, we moved ahead until 1205 pm when we found another large Minke whale. Further east we had another nice pod of 100 or more common dolphins. We finally ended up circumnavigating Platform Grace where we encountered 2 more humpback whales, a mother and her calf. At least three large mobs of California sea lions, each with 30 or 40 animals, also patrolled this area and were seen to dive and return to the surface together in synchrony. The cow-calf humpback pair proved to be an excellent combo, as they moved around and made several very close approaches to the boat as we were stopped, motionless in the water enjoying the show. On one particularly dramatic encounter the pair surfaced within a few feet of our bow and soaked everyone with spout spray.
Now that's a full total whale watching package, eh?
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The dorsal hump of a humpback is clearly seen as the whale enters the giant kelp paddy and in the process scares off a juvenile gull that was resting on it.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-001
Kelp draped across the back of a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-007
A humpback whale completely covered by kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-014
A humpback whale lifts its chin with its long pectoral fins straight out. The kelp paddy is now behind the whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-032
Humpbck whale spy hopping while forcing the kelp down below the surface.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-035
Here we see the humpback whale using a sculling motion with its long pectoral fins to move backwards into the kelp paddy.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-042
A strange anglular look at the folds and tubercles of the humpback's body.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-057
Pectoral fin with giant kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-062
Pectoral fin with giant kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-064
Pectoral fin with giant kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-066
Pectoral fin with giant kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-071
Dorsal surface completely draped in giant kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-080
Back and tail flukes work to vibrate the animal in the kelp.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-a-006
The humpback's head is in the lower left corner and kelp covers the back all the way to its dorsal fin at the top center.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 07-29 SB Channel-092
A humpback whale with white pectoral fins, probably the calf, surfaces very close to the bow of the boat.
Megaptera novaeangliae extreme close & passengers 2015 07-29 SB Channel-a-021
The large mother humpback surfaces and sends spout spray all over the decks.
Megaptera novaeangliae extreme close & passengers 2015 07-29 SB Channel-a-009
Two whales close to their fans.
Megaptera novaeangliae extreme close & passengers 2015 07-29 SB Channel-a-033
Tail flukes of a humpback with lots of whale fans close by.
Megaptera novaeangliae extreme close & passengers 2015 07-29 SB Channel-a-048
Minke whale.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2015 07-29 SB Channel-007
Humpback with a unique "fire hose" stream of water from its spout.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 07-29 SB Channel-165
Close up look at the tail flukes of a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 07-29 SB Channel-174
