2015 09-28 SB Channel
The afternoon breeze that was predicted by NOAA arrived early and the whole day was filled with a magnificent wind and moderately choppy seas. But with a water temperature of 72.3°F, it was refreshing, not cold. Captain Dave steered a course for the hot spot which was so productive yesterday, a few miles north of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island. Upon reaching the numbers our sharp-eyed deckhand Tasha found spouts a few miles ahead to the west. How does she do this with all the whitecaps around?
Sure enough, although the spot was not as "hot" as yesterday in terms of active feeding, bait near the surface, and so forth, it did yield 5 humpbacks with more in the area, and a huge mega-pod of at least 1,000 long-beaked common dolphins as well. Shearwaters and California sea lions were also abundant, but not seen feeding on the surface.
Many of the humpbacks approached the Condor Express, and their entire bodies could be seen in the clear water through the swells. We were sitting along an oceanic front and there were numerous drifting giant kelp paddies all over. During our observation period, just about every whale had a session or two of kelping. No stipe or frond was safe around the whales today. Another one of the most magnificent sights on a day when seas are running is watching humpbacks in the wind. They bust head first through the on-coming waves and minutes later ride them down hill as if surfing.
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Tail flukes - humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-167
Water patterns across the flanks of a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-032
Busting through the on-coming seas.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-012
Big swells dwarf a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-017
Waves wash across the back of a humpback whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-031
Lots of giant kelp debris and a mighty humpback whale shows its tail.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-166
Humpback waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-182
Whole body - humpback in the waves.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 09-28 SB Channel-a-032
Humpback kelping - pectoral fin.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-077
Humpback kelping - kelp on the back.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-094
Humpback kelping - dorsal fin and a shearwater in the back.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-108
Humpback kelping - dorsal kelp and white pectorals glowing underwater.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-101
Humpback kelping - Close look.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-144
Humpback kelping - spouting
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-138
Humpback kelping - highly decorated.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-211
Humpback kelping - kelp on the snout.
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-193
Humpback kelping
Megaptera novaeangliae kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-28 SB Channel-227
Two photographers and a friendly humpback.
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers 2015 09-28 SB Channel-a-248
