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Whale watching in Monterey Bay - Large post!
My wife and I have been on many whale watch trips over the years and have even been lucky enough to spend some time on research vessels. This past October we were on vacation with my sister and her kids (the kids first trip to the ocean), and had a whale watch experience that was nothing short of spectacular.
1) On the way out of the harbor, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds for a moment, so I tried to take advantage of the good light illuminating these sea lions on the rocks.
2) Our first sighting! An ocean sunfish, or Mole-Mole. It looks like half a fish. A BIG half.
3) Our second sighting was a baloon that we stopped to take out of the water. Sea turtles mistake these for jelly fish and die when they eat them.
4) Next up were som Russo's porpoises.
5) One or two got playful for just a moment.
6) Being the experienced whale watcher that I am, I was "checking 6", and caught this sea lion and pelican having an early lunch.
7) Our first whale turned out to be a pair. I like the :not quite out of the water" fluke shots the best.
8) Always "check 6". The pair we left behind began putting on a show for a research vessel that was behind us. this shot helps me appreciate the size of the whale, which often gets lost with over the water shots.
9) Awesomeness at 12 o'clock. The report from the whale watch boat ahead of us was that these Killer whales had just got a hold of a sea lion or two. By the time we got close enough for pictures, the feeding frenzy had died down.
10) This is truly a remarkable sight. Killer whales are known to hunt humpbacks. Its hard to see, but that is a humpback just at the surface, heading to the left. The Orcas are passing right by in the opposite direction.
11) Coming right at us. The group of 3 swam right under our boat.
12) Mama and a healthy looking juvenile.
13) One of my favorites.
14) Abouyt 2 hours into the trip, things got real interesting. Yes, that IS the pectoral fin of a humpback whale, and it IS stcking out right from under our boat. It got better and lasted a long time!
15) This is the second time Cindi and I have experienced this behavior. Humpbacks will occasionally become "friendly" and approach and then hang around a boat. Its unbelievably exciting.
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20) Did a mention that this humongous whale came right up to our boat and just hung out for an hour? :barb
21) We all thought it was pretty cool.
1) On the way out of the harbor, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds for a moment, so I tried to take advantage of the good light illuminating these sea lions on the rocks.
2) Our first sighting! An ocean sunfish, or Mole-Mole. It looks like half a fish. A BIG half.
3) Our second sighting was a baloon that we stopped to take out of the water. Sea turtles mistake these for jelly fish and die when they eat them.
4) Next up were som Russo's porpoises.
5) One or two got playful for just a moment.
6) Being the experienced whale watcher that I am, I was "checking 6", and caught this sea lion and pelican having an early lunch.
7) Our first whale turned out to be a pair. I like the :not quite out of the water" fluke shots the best.
8) Always "check 6". The pair we left behind began putting on a show for a research vessel that was behind us. this shot helps me appreciate the size of the whale, which often gets lost with over the water shots.
9) Awesomeness at 12 o'clock. The report from the whale watch boat ahead of us was that these Killer whales had just got a hold of a sea lion or two. By the time we got close enough for pictures, the feeding frenzy had died down.
10) This is truly a remarkable sight. Killer whales are known to hunt humpbacks. Its hard to see, but that is a humpback just at the surface, heading to the left. The Orcas are passing right by in the opposite direction.
11) Coming right at us. The group of 3 swam right under our boat.
12) Mama and a healthy looking juvenile.
13) One of my favorites.
14) Abouyt 2 hours into the trip, things got real interesting. Yes, that IS the pectoral fin of a humpback whale, and it IS stcking out right from under our boat. It got better and lasted a long time!
15) This is the second time Cindi and I have experienced this behavior. Humpbacks will occasionally become "friendly" and approach and then hang around a boat. Its unbelievably exciting.
16)
17)
18)
19)
20) Did a mention that this humongous whale came right up to our boat and just hung out for an hour? :barb
21) We all thought it was pretty cool.
Pete
I always wanted to grow up and be a fireman. But now I know you can't do both. http://www.petepics.smugmug.com
I always wanted to grow up and be a fireman. But now I know you can't do both. http://www.petepics.smugmug.com
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Tim
http://danielplumer.com/
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Sam
www.capture-the-pixel.com
Interesting possibility. We didn't notice any killer whales in the vicinity at the time, but our idea of "vicinity" is limited by our slow moving boat. We humans tend to describe any wild animal behavior that is not agressive, as "friendly". Truth is, we really don't understand most of the whale behavior that is observed at the surface.
To leaforte:
I have seen that video and its a great reminder that these are wild animals. respect that and keep your distance.
I always wanted to grow up and be a fireman. But now I know you can't do both. http://www.petepics.smugmug.com