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
This Summer on the Monterey Bay
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Curtis Hart
- Posts: 595
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:07 pm
- Location: Hillsdale County, Michigan
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
That's pretty impressive from shore! I really like the Salmon Shark as well, even if it is dead.
Curtis Hart
Curtis Hart
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
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
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
- Posts: 878
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 4:02 am
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
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
Thanks for posting this!
--Berkeley
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
from shore - wow
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
Thanks, all. I've added a few more.
JimM
JimM
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- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
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.
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
- Posts: 1474
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Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
Simply incredible! Incredible opportunities to get some incredible pictures, which you did. A sunfish too, those things are awesome!