2015 10-22 SB Channel
The sightings started around 1055am when we were about 9 or 10 miles south of Santa Barbara. Here Tasha had spotted two spouts and our first three humpback whales. These whales were heading east and had long down, short up, times. There were no birds around or California sea lions, so I suspect they were travelling and/or searching. One of the whales was "Top Notch," and later in the day it became a very friendly as well as well-loved, whale.
Less than an hour later additional humpback spouts were located southeast of our initial sighting. This proved to be the first of two oceanic hot spots with all the shearwaters, gulls, terns, sea lions and, of course, whales, feeding close enough to the surface to keep every species interested. My friend, Valerie, the Naturalist pointed out how much fun it was to notice the very distinctive dorsal fins of our humpback whales today. True, that. I think the photographs will clearly show these differences.
Finally, after 12 noon, we found the second hot spot and this one produced at least 6 more humpback whales, one of which was the ever-loyal Top Notch. Now the whales were spending more time on the surface and several of them came quite close to the Condor as we idled in place. Three or four humpback whales swam along the side of the boat and around the bow. But now we all saw one reason why Top Notch has its name (other than its notched dorsal fin). Topper swam up the starboard side from the stern past the bow while very close to the side of the boat. It then turned around abruptly and swam back down from whence it came originally. All this was enhanced by that cobalt blue clear water.
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Whale fans get a whole body view of a Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae whole body clear water & passengers 2015 10-22 SB Channel-c-053
Megapteranovaeangliaewholebodyclearwaterpassengers2015Channel053
A humpback whale visits its fans on the bow
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers 2015 10-22 SB Channel-174
Great close looks at a spouting humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers 2015 10-22 SB Channel-271
Dorsal fin comparisons - snowy peak
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-025
Dorsal fin comparisons - small fin
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-037
Dorsal fin comparisons - top notch
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-110
Tail flukes of a diving humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-006
Waves wash across the back of a spouting humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-071
Head of a humpback whale in clear water
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-067
Rostrum of a humpback whale with its tubercles (bumps)
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-091
Side view - head of a spouting humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-081
A close up look at a spouting humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-094
A spouting humpback whale come up from the waves and heads directly at the camera
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-129
Very close look at a spout spray rainbow.
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers rainbow 2015 10-22 SB Channel-179
Tail flukes - humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 10-22 SB Channel-113
