This Summer on the Monterey Bay

[JAMAUGHN]

This summer's been unprecedented on the Monterey Bay. The mammals occur a bit further down in the post, but I wanted to add a little bit of what else I've been seeing, as well.

Egg Yolk Jelly, Phacellophora camtschatica by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Purple-striped Jelly, Chrysaora colorata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Cyanea capillata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Ochre Sea Star, Pisaster ochraceus, and Gooseneck Barnacles, Pollicipes polymerus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Dead, unfortunately, but still cool to see:
Salmon Shark, Lamna ditropis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Giant Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola by J. Maughn, on Flickr

The cause of all the excitement:
Northern Anchovies, Engraulis mordax by J. Maughn, on Flickr


The Mammals:

Southern Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris nereis, enjoying the company of a Pacific Rock Crab, Romaleon antennarium by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Southern Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris nereis, enjoying the company of a Pacific Rock Crab, Romaleon antennarium by J. Maughn, on Flickr

California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr


...and finally, the real stars of the summer:

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Lunge Feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr


...Did I mention all of these whale shots are FROM SHORE? If you have even a passing interest in Marine Mammals, and live within a couple hundred miles of Moss Landing, CA, you owe it to yourself to get out there before this goes away. It's a mind-boggling experience.

I'll hopefully be adding to this post as the summer progresses...


**edit** A few more shots, this time from a boat...

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Southern Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris nereis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr



Thanks for looking,
JimM

[Curtis Hart]

That's pretty impressive from shore! I really like the Salmon Shark as well, even if it is dead.




Curtis Hart

[PNWHerper]

This is incredible!!

I love the diversity and the behaviors you captured. Whales breaching! Sea otter eating crab! A wild sunfish... woah, man, this is a naturalists dream. Glad you had those experiences.



Thanks for the great photos.

Fil

[Berkeley Boone]

Holy crap those are awesome! One day I would love to make it out to California to see that stuff!
Thanks for posting this!
--Berkeley

[BillMcGighan]

from shore - wow

[JAMAUGHN]

Thanks, all. I've added a few more.

JimM

[Tamara D. McConnell]

Utterly amazing. I love the drama of the whale shots. The "from shore" part makes it even more incredible.
Thanks for the vicarious trip to an evidently stunning part of the world.
I can't pick a favorite...the whole post is dreamlike beautiful.

[Fieldnotes]

Simply incredible! Incredible opportunities to get some incredible pictures, which you did. A sunfish too, those things are awesome!