2016 03-03 SB Channel
12 noon
We had barely left the California sea lions sleeping on the outer harbor entrance buoy when our first 2 of the 10 total gray whales came into view. As was the case earlier this week, these were smaller whales, perhaps juveniles, and they did not put up much of a spout. No problem, because it was "one of those days."
Soon after following the shy juveniles more spouts were observed nearby. These were spouts from a trio of gray whales, one of which greeted the Condor Express with a very nice, almost full-body breach. We followed for a while and, you guessed it...
A half hour later we found two nice gray whales. By "nice" I mean they fluked-up a lot and this always makes their fan club cheer and get happier. As fate would have it, we were diverted away from this pair around twenty minutes later.
The first of two "threesomes" were found, one closer to the beach than the other at least at the start of the sighting. Like other trios we've been seeing lately there was a lot of courtship-like behavior with head stands, spy hops, tail flukes writhing around, as well as some chasing and rolling. Soon the second threesome slowly passed the first group and they were similarly occupied. My camera lens got all steamed up, but I took so many shots I probably won't finish post processing until Sunday or Monday.
On the way back to the harbor Eric located a mini hot spot full of sea birds, sea lions and long-beaked common dolphins all feeding on a small northern anchovy bait ball. Loads of action all around. What a day!
----- ---- --- -- - >< O>
-
Close up look at the head and spout of a gray whale.
Eschrichtius robustus 2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-009
A parially submerged rostrum in clear water as seen as a gray whale swims towards the camera.
Eschrichtius robustus 2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-040
Image 1 of 4 in a sequence: the spouting gray whale on the right (perhaps a male) makes an advance towards the whale on the left (perhaps a female).
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-072
Image 2 of 4 in a sequence: the spouting gray whale on the right (perhaps a male) makes an advance towards the whale on the left (perhaps a female).
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-075
Image 3 of 4 in a sequence: the spouting gray whale on the right (perhaps a male) makes an advance towards the whale on the left (perhaps a female) and prepares to rest his head on her back.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-126
Image 4 of 4 in a sequence: the spouting gray whale on the right (perhaps a male) makes an advance towards the whale on the left (perhaps a female). Head of male is now seen partially resting on female.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-128
The two outermost gray whales are rapidly approaching the central whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-093
Image 1 of 2: Head of (perhaps male) whale is on top of a second (perhaps female) whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-131
Image 2 of 2: Head of (perhaps male) whale is on top of a second (perhaps female) whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-130
Yin-yang: Gray whale in foreground has rolled over on its left side to put its ventral (front side) in contact with the gray whale at the top of the photograph.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-141
More dualing tail flukes. Gray whale courtship.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-155
Another image showing the head of the foreground whald resting atop another (darker colored) gray whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-139
Three tail flukes.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-173
Tail flukes of one gray whale are seen as it slowly dives below the second whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-393
Tail fluke action.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-270
A spouting gray whale looks like it has grown a extra pectoral fin which is actually the fin of a second whale submerged right next to the first whale.
Eschrichtius robustus mating behavior2016 03-03 SB Channel-a-490
