2009 11-28 San Pedro Channel

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Overcast and a light breeze..out of Long Beach and into the San Pedro Channel where a great feeding hot spot full of krill was erupting.

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Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) breach sequence, image 1 of 2.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 033
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) breach sequence, image 2 of 2.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 034
Ventral view body of a breaching Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata); sequence image 1 of 2.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 037
Rolling over on its right side...a breaching Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata); sequence image 2 of 2.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 038
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) takes to the air...sequential image 2 of 4.
1 Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 021
An upside-down guided missile...A Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) takes to the air...sequential image 1 of 4.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 020
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) takes to the air...sequential image 3 of 4.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 022
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) takes to the air...sequential image 4 of 4: splashdown!
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 023
A Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) gets airborne surrounded by Bonaparte's Gulls (Larus philadelphia).
Balaenoptera acutorostrata BREACH seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 030
The dorsal fin of a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus).
Balaenoptera physalus 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 004
Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia).
Larus philadelphia in flight 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 005
Close look at a friendly Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia) on patrol for krill.
Larus philadelphia in flight 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 008
Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)...you can see the krill in its mouth.
Larus philadelphia feeding on krill 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 009
Spout of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).
Balaenoptera musculus 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 010
By comparison with the previous image, this is the dorsal fin of a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)...again, lots of Bonaparte's Gulls (Larus philadelphia) everywhere.
Balaenoptera musculus 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 013
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke sequence...image 1. Note the dorsal fin to the right, just above the water line, and the abundant Bonaparte's Gulls (Larus philadelphia) feeding on the same krill as the whale.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq Harbor Vinc Thom Bridge in back 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 002
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke sequence...image 2....waterfall.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 003
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke sequence...image 3.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 004
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke sequence...image 4.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 005
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail fluke sequence...image 5.
Balaenoptera musculus tail fluke seq 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 006
A curious California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) takes a look at the whalers.
Zalophus californianus head blue water CLOSE 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 004
Mr.Whiskers snarfs some seawater.... a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) patrols the waters around the boat.
Zalophus californianus pup in blue water CLOSE 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel 007
Two Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus).
Balaenoptera physalus 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel b 004
Two Crowley towboats, "Leader" with a stern line, and "Admiral" in the back, help guide the oil tanker "Alaskan Navigator" into Long Beach Harbor.
vessel Crowley towboat Leader tanker Alaskan Navigator 2009 11 27 Long Beach Harbor 007
Crowley towboat "Leader" pulls the stern of the oil tanker "Alaskan Navigator" to put the big ship into position to enter Long Beach Harbor.
vessel Crowley towboat Leader tanker Alaskan Navigator 2009 11 27 Long Beach Harbor 020
Crowley towboat "Admiral" with hammerheads and containers in the background.
vessel Crowley towboat Admiral 2009 11 27 Long Beach Harbor 006
You have to look carefully to see the complete body of a friendly Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) swimming under the blue water. Minke #2 is just coming into the field of view at the top edge of this image.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata UW blue 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel a 007
Another look at the whole body of a friendly Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) swimming under the blue water. Minke #2 is just visible underwater at the top of the image.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata UW blue 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel a 011
A friendly Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) cruises past our boat. Hammerheads fill the harbor shoreline in the background.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata LA harbor in back 2009 11 27 San Pedro Channel a 018

CONDOR EXPRESS TRIPS

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2009 11-28 San Pedro Channel