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.
And here's where the whale hit the water. Notice the birds nearby - these are extremely rare Black-vented Shearwaters.
Here's a photo where John shows the three Humpbacks.
John'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.
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.
Humpback Whales can be seen off the Mendonoma Coast in the summer and fall, though not in great numbers. Ron LeValley went out on a boat from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg and came across two Humpbacks. And they came very close to the boat, obviously curious about the boat filled with people. Ron says they were spouted on several times and he had to clean his camera lens three times!
Below is the tail of a diving Humpback.
And below the Humpback is about to spout. I have a feeling this is one of the times Ron had to clean his camera lens.
And here is a Humpback's barnacle-encrusted tail fins. Ron says there are two species of barnacles on this whale - the acorn barnacle, Coronula diadema, which is unique to the humpback and the rabbit-eared barnacle, Conchoderma, a kind of stalked or goose-necked barnacle that settles on Coronula.
Below you will see this Humpback Whale is taking a good look at Ron!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his fabulous photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's photography, here is his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/