Megaptera novaeangliae: Humpback Whale
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This male humpback put on quite a show, repeatedly diving and breaching, perhaps trying to see how much of his body he could get out of water. It was certainly something to see.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Alaska
(Alaska2009_4114_edited-3)
The setting sun reflects off this segment of the Philadelphia skyline with the tallest skyscraper, The Comcast Technology Center in the foreground. It is the tallest building in the city of Philadelphia and also the tallest building in Pennsylvania rising to 342 meters.
There only 13 building in the USA that are taller and they are either in Manhattan or Chicago.
"The literal meaning of this phrase is “let us try one more time,” or “try again.” King Henry speaks this phrase to encourage his soldiers, who are launching an attack on through a gap or breach in the walls of Harfleur.'
This was how I felt when it came to achieving this image. Each time I went, the conditions were only adequate and therefore, so too was the result. On this stormy day, I thought the clouds might part and let the sunshine through, but after hours waiting, it was not to be. So, admittedly I packed up to move on.
However, when I saw a different opportunity it was because the light was shining through and maybe it would pass over my spot. I ran as best I could which was not very well. The camera was still on the settings needed and my tripod marks revealed where I had been. Sure enough, the light came and changed everything giving the final image life. I almost titled this shot "Paid For", because as I was waiting, I was either bitten or stung by some rather large flyer on the arm. The things we do to get the shot. Yikes!
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in blue water offshore from the coast of Port Stephens, NSW, Australia.
The humpback is one of the larger rorqual species of baleen whale with adults rangeing in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and weighing approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb).
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Humpback Whale Breach
Monterey Bay, California
The bay is loaded with anchovies right now. It is a great time to get out there. We had lunge feeding, tail slapping, head slapping, whales that swam right up to and pushed the boat, and this whale breached twice. I am useless at getting on a "once off" breach - my reaction time is too slow. But a second chance did it.
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Whale biologist Hal Whitehead defines a breach as when more than 40% of the animal is above water, whereas a lunge is when less than 40% appears. I remember that this adult Humpback Whale dropped back into the water straight after this shot, and I'd guess about 40% is on show, so this is a borderline breach. You can see water pouring out of its mouth (especially on the far side) and cascading down its back. I think the top of its pectoral fin is just visible if you zoom in, though it looks oddly absent. That misty area just left of its mouth is actually its breath as it quickly dissipates in the next pictures in the sequence. This was taken at Gorda Banks off the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.
Long-beaked common dolphins are gregarious and are often seen ‘porpoising' at the water surface, breaching and bow-riding for extended periods of time. They are also highly vocal and like the short-beaked common dolphin, can be heard whistling to each other when they are above the surface of the water. They typically travel in large social groups numbering between 10 and 50 dolphins.
Saw this amazing breach while out in Monterey Bay! Notice this is only at 90mm! They are so active right now its incredible!
Here's a slightly wider "in habitat" shot of a breaching Humpback Whale showing the mountains and desert of the Baja peninsula in the background. I have posted a number of frame-filling breach shots so I thought I would try something a little different. I loved the way you can see the bulk of the whale collapsing like a deflating Zeppelin without the support of the water.
A few more from my Moss Landing whale watching trip where we witnessed hundreds of breaches by a young whale. This youngster is the calf of CRC-12529 and called Google by some for the white patches around the eye.
Humpback Whales are visiting Eastern Australian Coast these days. This one may have considered feasting on the bird
Drune had disappeared and Bast needed a new home, she didn't expect wandering into Hell would be the answer