2018 06-14 SB Channel
SURFACE LUNGE-FEEDING BLUE WHALES !!
The big news today was the presence of more than a dozen giant whales found surface lunge feeding at the same hot spot where these whales (blue whales and fin whales) have been watched consistently for the past month. We closely watch 14+ blue whales, 1+ fin whale, and 400 long-beaked common dolphins today. A high stratus layer developed some “sucker holes” of warm sun as the expedition progressed. The bright light in these holes illuminated the bright blue quality of the blue whales on the surface; this is a sight that must be seen.
It has been a few years since the summer krill explosion has reached the surface waters where the huge, open mouths of sideways giant whales could be seen all around the Condor Express. Their huge ventral pleats expanded on the surface as the whales moved forward, mouths open, and filled with krill-laden seawater. Each beast then expelled the seawater through their numerous baleen plates which retained the krill. The whale then rolled back, right-side-up. Online sources suggest an adult blue whale feeds on around 8,000 pounds of krill per day. This activity is certainly one of the natural wonders of the world.
The first group of 3 or so blue whales that we watched were feeding subsurface, some had long down times, but all 3 individuals were tail flukers. We moved east to find the remaining blue whales engaged in feeding. The numbers quoted in the first paragraph above have a (+) sign next to them. This refers to the many whales we saw all around the region but did not have time to closely watch.
Krill-eating phalaropes were common. At one point a flock of these little birds scattered as a blue whale hit the surface with its mouth wide open. Other life seen included several small flocks of sooty shearwaters (not in the krill area), and a lone, quick-moving, Minke whale that was probably not seen by many on board.
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A closer look at the rorqual grooves of a surface lunge-feeding blue whale. Here the grooves are contracting and sending seawater out of the mouth and through the baleen.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING-EXTREME CLOSE UP ventral grooves 2018 06-14 SB Channel--008
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surface lunge-feeding blue whale is seen moving to the upper right corner. It's rostrum with upper jaw and ballen is just under the surface on the right. The water-filled and massive gular pouch, with external ventral grooves, is in the middle, and the left pectoral fin is aimed at the camera.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING 2018 06-14 SB Channel--194
Here the upper jaw with baleen is visible beneath the surface of the clear water to the upper left. This surface lunge-feeding blue whale is moving from right to left as it engulfs a massive volume of krill-laden seawater. The rorqual grooves are expanded.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING-EXTREME CLOSE UP 2018 06-14 SB Channel--005
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This is one of my favorite shots from the day. It features a slightly elevated left pectoral fin and lots of ventral "rorqual"grooves. I like the way the clear film of water that is washing over the grooves from the bottom of the photo helps magnify them.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING-EXTREME CLOSE UP 2018 06-14 SB Channel--013
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A peek inside the open mouth of a surface lunge-feeding blue whale. The top of the rostrum is at the bottom of the photo, and we see inside the open expansive lower jaw and gular pouch.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING 2018 06-14 SB Channel--046
The right flanks with unique dorsal fin of a blue whale.
Balaenoptera musculus 2018 06-14 SB Channel--194
Orange-tinged baleen (from the red krill it eats?) can be seen inside the open, upper jaw. The lower jaw is a the bottom as water (full of krill) is been "scooped" into the gular pouch. Beast is moving from right to left.
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING-EXTREME CLOSE UP - baleen - 2018 06-14 SB Channel--002
BalaenopteramusculussurfaceLUNGEFEEDINGEXTREMECLOSEbaleen2018Channel002
A very WIDE open mouth of a surface lunge-feeding blue whale. Baleen is visible inside the upper jaw (right) and external rorqual grooves are seen below the lower jaw (left).
Balaenoptera musculus surface LUNGE FEEDING - baleen - 2018 06-14 SB Channel--203
Close look at the dual blow holes in the top, rear of the splashguard mound.
Balaenoptera musculus 2018 06-14 SB Channel--562
Blue whale rising!
Balaenoptera musculus 2018 06-14 SB Channel--580
A very close side view of the splashguard and spout.
Balaenoptera musculus B&W splashguard spout close up 2018 06-14 SB Channel--082
Northern fulmar lookig a bit shabby - perhaps due to molting. Many migratory pelagic birds come here to feed and molt before they continue on the migration.
Fulmaris glacialils 2018 06-14 SB Channel--014
