Tag Archives: Humpback Whale

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Humpback Whales, some with their calves, slowly travel northward this time of year in search of food. A few weeks ago, Shari Goforth-Eby found a young Humpback Whale off Saunders Reef.

Shari wrote, "I saw one Humpback close to the reef - it appears to be a sub-adult foraging on bluff side and south side of the reef. This is the second young Humpback Whale seen in our area exhibiting Gray Whale-type behavior in the shallower waters. Humpbacks and Gray Whales are baleen whales; they strain their food through a network of keratin plates similar to hair. But Gray Whales feed from the bottom and get small shrimp up in the kelp. Humpbacks feed on schools of krill and bait fish. It is unusual for us to see Humpbacks in shallow areas for any reason."

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Yep, the fog rolled in overnight, giving those of us near the ocean a foggy start to our day. Sunlight began to break through around noon in places on this first full day of Summer!

 

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Monday evening Mike Petrich saw a blow, the exhalation of a whale, out on the Pacific Ocean. He had his camera and captured this series of a Humpback Whale breaching, just magnificent!

Scott Mercer was told by a fisherman that anchovies are off the Mendonoma Coast in vast numbers. That fact is going to bring more whales and other marine mammals to our area. Get your binoculars out!

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his series of photos with you here.

Fog on the immediate coast, sunny away from the coast - hey, it must be summer!

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Ron LeValley was on a pelagic trip off of Fort Bragg when this Humpback whale spectacularly breached.

Humpback Whale offshore from Fort Bragg by Ron LeValleySummer is the time we are more likely to see Humpbacks, but they have been seen in greater numbers off the California coast this year. Here is a photo Ron took on a previous pelagic trip. The Humpback came up right next to the boat and was looking at him!

Humpback Whale looking at me by Ron LeValleyI sure would like to know what the Humpback was thinking when it saw Ron and his camera.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

Ron also has a near-daily photo email list you can subscribe to and, just like mine, it's free!

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John Batchelder was watching Sea Lions rafting and feeding recently when three Humpback Whales showed up. One breached as John was ready with his camera.

Whale breach near Shell Beach

And here's where the whale hit the water. Notice the birds nearby - these are extremely rare Black-vented Shearwaters.

Whale breach near Shell Beach

Here's a photo where John shows the three Humpbacks.

Counting the Humpbacks by John BatchelderJohn's photos were sent to Cascadia Research to help further their knowledge of these beautiful cetaceans.

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

 

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Ron LeValley was out on the Point Arena-Stornetta lands when Secretary Jewel visited to see this beautiful land for herself last November. The hope of many of us is for this land to be included in the California Coastal National Monument.

While Sally Jewell visited the land, three Humpback Whales started breaching. Though it was a long ways off Ron got this photo. What perfect timing - even the Whales are in agreement!

Ron enjoys going on pelagic trips and sometimes gets some fantastic up close and personal photos of Humpback Whales. Below is one such photo.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's photography, here  is his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/