Michael S. Nolan's Wildlife Images

"I don't know boo-boo, what's a bear to do?"

2009-05-04T22:28:00.010-07:00

September 2008
Brown bear antics! With personalities and curiosity comes some truly wonderful moments, I almost can't "bear" to share the images with you! The lighter side of bears is presented here...
"Hmmm...tastes like chicken!"

"I can't believe I ate the whole thing..."

"They left the door open for me, they MUST want me to take this baby for a spin. I could buzz all my buddies and scare the blueberries right out of them!"

"ooh, busted! I almost made it too...!"

"These life jackets need a little more meat on (in) them..."

"I've always dreamed of having my own boat..."

"Insert key and turn clockwise. Pull choke lever up, push to engage propeller, add throttle to bring up to speed..."

"So much for my dream of sailing the high seas!"

"If I wait here long enough, maybe the ranger will bring me a picinic basket"!

Anthropomorphism - the inability to stop assigning silly captions to cute bear antics! I do apologize for the captions, but I hope you enjoy the images!

Look for the bear necessities...

2009-05-04T19:20:00.012-07:00

September 2008
It's late September and I have left Southeast Alaska to head to the Katmai Peninsula to watch and photograph brown bears around Brooks Camp on the Brooks River. These bears will all be going into hibernation in only a matter of weeks so what becomes a bear necessity is to eat as much salmon as each bear can possibly stomach!

It is fascinating to me to watch a huge Alaskan brown bear daintily peel the skin off a salmon with only a set of claws as "silverware". The dexterity of bears as they pull off their favorite parts of the fish is a joy to watch and photograph.

In my 5 days camping here alone along the river I saw a total of 38 different bears! Many were content to spend the entire day patrolling the waters for dead salmon that have already spawned.

It's usually not the bear that I see that worries me (well OK, a little) but a bear like this, that I never saw but had to be right next to me. I had walked past this muddy spot to get a clear look at the river and had returned only minutes after going past this spot. Imagine my surprise when fresh bear tracks were in the exact spot I had been only minutes before. That's a size 12 muck boot to give you an idea of the size of the bear (the one I didn't see, hear, smell, or feel). Upon seeing the track I have to say my senses sharpened a bit...

Not only the adults need to get as many calories as they can gobble, but cubs need to eat salmon too! This is a 2-year old dining on a fish with mom who is content with sharing dinner.

Moms will sometimes play-fight with a quarrelsome cub to sharpen skills the cub will need later in life. Here the cub (on the left, notice the clean, white teeth) seems to have the upper hand, but mom can quickly put it in its place if it gets a little too rambunctious.

With all that eating and life lessons there is still ample time for a cub to play and learn about the world around it outside of mom's attention. Here a cub chases a magpie that got a little too close to the salmon it was feeding on beside the lake.

Sometimes a good back scratch is a welcome diversion. This cub just couldn't seem to get to that exact spot...

But perhaps the best playmate is a sibling cub. Here two coy (cubs-of-year) wrestle and push each other while mom is content to save her energy and build her reserves with more salmon.

The wrestling match continues and while it looks like fun it is honing important skills that these cubs will need later in life. Watching a day in the life of bears is such a privilege to me and I will be back here in September of 2009 to spend more time with these beautiful bears!

Please visit my website at www.wildlifeimages.net to see more of my photography.

Southeast Alaska critters

2009-05-04T10:51:00.012-07:00

September 2008
So just what might a photographer expect to see and film on a one week trip aboard either the National Geographic Sea Bird or National Geographic Sea Lion in Southeast Alaska? Tons of animals (literally!) Everything from the small, like this rough-skinned newt...

... to birds of all different feathers (like these black-legged kittiwakes on ice).

Five types of Pacific salmon, like this sockeye spawning...

... or animals that feed on all of that fish like the lovable face of a Steller sea lion.

You want bears? We got 'em! Up close and VERY personal, like this black bear photographed with my 24-105mm lens right at my feet.

And of course brown bears in abundance feeding on those very same salmon.

Lots of whales and dolphins live in the waters surrounding all these islands, like these killer whales swimming in pod formation...

...or these humpback whales cooperatively bubble-net feeding off Chichagof Island.

In fact you might just be surprised at how many animals you can find here in Southeast Alaska...

... if you only look! So come and see for yourself. I would be happy to share the beauty and wonder of Southeast Alaska with you and your camera(s) in August and September this year. Call 1.800.EXPEDITION for details!

Magnificent Tracy Arm

2009-05-04T09:51:00.008-07:00

September 2008
Tracy Arm is an ice carved fjord about 45 miles south of Juneau, Alaska. The fjord ends in two beautiful glaciers, the north and south Sawyer Glaciers. Both of these glaciers are extremely active, and each is receding visibly between our visits. Huge icebergs as well as lots of bergy bits and growlers are constantly being deposited into the ocean from the glaciers as they calve ice into the sea. The bergs themselves are often deep blue with an ethereal light that seems to come from within the ice itself.

To see a calving event is a matter of patience and timing. Often huge sections of the glaciers face will break off and crash into the sea with a thunderous sound.

Possibly even more amazing, though much less cacophonous an event, is when a huge piece of ice breaks off the glaciers' face from below the sea surface where we can't see or hear it until the detached iceberg launches itself into the air from below. These bergs are called "shooters" and can also be enormous, creating large waves that threaten small boats too near the face.

For several years now I have returned each summer to witness the retreat of the two Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm. This waterfall and exposed rock were covered in ice by South Sawyer Glacier only four short years ago.

Being up-close and personal in our Zodiacs really gives the sense for how small we humans really are in the geological events that surround us here in this fjord. How ironic that it is the very way we are choosing to live our lives here in the 21st century that is accelerating the climate change that is directly (and visibly) forcing the retreat of these glaciers!

A small harbor porpoise swims among the bergy bits deep in the fjord next to Sawyer Glacier, perhaps the very first animal to swim in this newly opened section of the fjord. Glaciers are in a constant state of change all over the world, and most are retreating at an alarming rate. It will be a sad day indeed if we lose them altogether here in Southeast Alaska. Better come and enjoy them while you can...

Otterly-ridiculous Southeast Alaska

2009-05-04T06:34:00.008-07:00

September 2008
Early morning in Idaho inlet and this sea otter is out cruising looking for breakfast. Sea otters might reach 100 pounds, and they need to eat almost 35% of their body weight each and every day to feed their incredibly high metabolism. Though they seem like they might be related to seals and sea lions, sea otters are actually the largest and heaviest member of the weasel family.

This otter is working on a Dungeness crab in typical otter fashion; lying on its back in the water and using its belly for the breakfast table!

This pair of otters has scored a HUGE meal...a Giant Pacific Octopus! This is the largest octopus species in the world, with a record weight of over 150 lbs confirmed. It takes two otters just to keep the thing at the surface! Mmmm... a little sushi to start the day!

Grace, beauty, curiosity and of course their incredibly dense fur (almost a million hairs per square inch!) got these animals into all sorts of trouble when they were "discovered" by Georg Steller in 1741. From an historical population of between 150,000 and 300,000 otters they were quickly culled down to less than 2,000 individuals to feed the fur trade. Seems it doesn't pay to have the densest fur of any mammal on the planet.

With good management and protected status sea otter populations are on the rise here in Southeast Alaska. Here is a very rare sight indeed; a mother sea otter nursing her young while hauled out on land in the South Marble Islands. Many sea otters never come to shore at all, spending their entire lives at sea!

Please visit http://www.wildlifeimages.net/ to see more of my photography!

A Steller Day in Southeast Alaska!

2009-05-04T05:49:00.011-07:00

September 2008
It is almost a full moon and the spring tide is racing into Icy Strait through Inian Pass from Cross Sound in the Gulf of Alaska. The Steller (Northern) Sea Lions lie in wait to catch salmon as they return to their natal streams through the only access salmon have to inside waters in this part of Alaska. But wait! What are these curious creatures in bright orange vests doing in our feeding grounds? Larry Hobbs is the first to encounter the welcome committee.

A few false charges and some territorial displays let us know just whose fishing grounds we are visiting. Hmmm...they don't look so bad after all! Once we are determined not to be a threat to sea lion lunch, curiosity takes over and the inspections begin.

Soon a game of "I dare you" starts. You remember this game from your childhood right? It goes something like this: "I dare you to get closer to that boat" and then the reply "I double dare you", usually followed by "I double dog dare you".

Soon the sea lions are right alongside, much to the delight of us all!

Video chronicler Beau Sylte gets some in-your-face shots as the games continue.

Soon all the youngsters on the block have us surrounded and are checking us out. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but here in Southeast Alaska it just makes for a Steller day!

Visit http://www.expeditions.com/ for more information on how you can join me in August and September of 2009 to see and film Steller sea lions in Southeast Alaska.

Alaska is...

2009-04-30T11:38:00.018-07:00

September, 2008
Southeast Alaska is simply a wonderful pallet of textures, pattern, hues, shades, and colors. For a photographer the challenge is to capture the essence of a place that is constantly changing it's light and line. How to visually describe and capture the magic here in Southeast Alaska? Perhaps by starting with a sunrise over Admiralty Island...

Or by capturing the mists of a temperate rain forest.

The repeating patterns of the mountain ranges reaching for the sea...

or with frozen water being pulled by gravity to the sea as well. There are over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska many which end with their "toes" in the ocean!

It is a constant push and pull that forces the glaciers to finally calf and the water trapped in the glacier itself to return to the sea.

Ethereal blue light trapped in frozen water, marching towards the sea.

Literally thousands of tiny islands and islets dot the seascape of Southeast Alaska.

Making it a kayakers paradise as well as a photographers dream.

Perhaps more than any other physical feature to define the area is the nearly constant water that falls from the skies.

With no rain there would be no rainbows, so let it rain!

Glass-flat inside passage waters yield amazing patterns in the sea's surface!

And occasionally a sleepy little Southeast Alaska town will give a sense of what it is like to live here in this remote part of the United States.

Fiercly independent folks still make a living as their fathers and grandfathers before them did...fishing!

For many Southeast Alaska comes from the deck of a huge cruise ship. With over a million people visiting Alaska each year (almost twice the number of people visit as actually live in the state) the high-impact areas see a lot of tourist influence, like here in the state capital in Juneau.

Icebergs in Greenland?

2009-03-27T07:35:00.011-07:00

August 2008
First Ice! Here is the very first bit of ice that the newly christened National Geographic Explorer encounters as she crosses the Denmark Strait, the body of water that separates Iceland from Greenland.

Beautiful icebergs by Zodiac near Skjoldungesund, Greenland.

Sculpted formations that seem to defy building codes. The blues are simply ethereal.

Warm summer days are constantly melting the bergs right in front of us, slowly changing their form and shape in an infinite variety of ways.

Sometimes more dramatic changes occur in a heartbeat. Watch as this iceberg just outside the tiny town of Tasiilaq fractures and calves with a thunderous clap.

Locals say that this huge berg has been grounded here in the harbor for weeks now, quiet and unassuming as it slowly melts away in the summer heat.

We are just lucky enough to be here when the quiet is shattered by the sound of the berg exploding from within.

Huge chunks of ice are thrown skyward and then fall into the awaiting arms of the sea.

A massive wave forms, one that actually swept into the harbor and violently rocked all the boats docked there. All grew quiet once again, at least until the next time this berg decides to self-destruct!

Photography in higher latitudes!

2009-03-27T06:53:00.011-07:00

August 2008
How could you possibly spend a better summers day than to wander in the Valley of the Flowers on Ammassalik Island in Greenland? The answer of course is not only to stop and smell the flowers, but to stop and photograph them as well. Nice form Robert!

A self-portrait overlooking the picturesque town of Qaqortoq, formerly Julianhåb, in Greenland. Color, leading lines, and shadows for drama were all coming together nicely for this photo. Smile!

At these high latitudes the golden hour for photography can come quite late. Here is a glimpse of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) just before midnight off the stern of the National Geographic Explorer.

Amanda frames a different view of the ship at dock in Qaqortoq, Greenland. Using a "framing" technique can be fun and give a nice window into your photographic subject.

Even our Videographer got into the action. Kevin, you look so intent!

CT wandering among Arctic cotton above the town of Tasiilaq, Greenland.

Dewdrops on this flower frame Deb as she concentrates on her photography.

Of course photography in the summer here can come with its own special challenges. Puffins and terns are not the only "birds" out in force in this area, as Jen demonstrates!

But the quiet and solitude can make for a relaxing and enjoying afternoon composing shots. While this area is not a target-rich wildlife spot, fun images can be made for those who look!

Iceland is for the birds!

2009-03-27T06:11:00.005-07:00

August 7, 2008
This morning we find ourselves in the very dramatic fjords of northwest Iceland in the Hornstrandir peninsula. Atlantic puffins wheel past, their beaks full of a tasty meal for their waiting chicks, snuggled deep into burrows excavated in the ground.

Not to be outdone by a mere puffin, an Arctic tern gets into the action as well!

Nothing is more comical than watching these fat little birds trying to come in for a landing with a beak full of fish. The wings flare, the feet come out as brakes, and they literally just fall out of the sky onto the grassy hills!

In contrast to the puffins, the Arctic tern is sleek and aerodynamic. Long lines, graceful wings and tail, with a long and narrow beak. These birds are elegant in flight!

What the puffin lacks in grace it makes up for with brute strength. Such a chunky and stout little bird, but you have to admit that its pretty cool to carry so many fish in your beak at once!

Visit www.wildlifeimages.net to see more of my photos.

National Geographic Explorer launches!

2009-03-10T13:38:00.008-07:00

August 6, 2008
The inaugural voyage of the National Geographic Explorer began yesterday evening in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. This morning glasses were raised as Sven Lindblad toasted to the health and long life of the newest expedition ship in the Lindblad fleet!

The National Geographic Explorer is rated for ice-filled polar waters and will sail the world at high latitudes in the respective hemispheres summer time in search of everything from polar bears to penguins. I wish her a long and distinguished career and hope to call her my new home for many expeditions into the future!

A head on view of the National Geographic Explorer.

Her she is at anchor in Hvalsey Kirke, Southwest Greenland, the first time for this ship to visit Greenland!

The National Geographic Explorer circumnavigating the island of Skjoldungen in the very remote part of southeast Greenland.

Alone with only a Zodiac to confirm soundings, the National Geographic Explorer will often find herself in very remote parts of the world, with no other expedition ship for hundreds of miles around! May she always bring adventure and excitement to those who travel on her. Skol!

The Maui Spin Zone

2008-11-25T01:12:00.008-07:00

June 2008
I have spent literally hundreds of hours over the years with spinner dolphins here on Maui, usually from a small inflatable boat as I parallel the group traveling along the coast.

But it is here, in the water, that I can really come to appreciate the social structure and dynamics of the entire pod.

Swimming out to deeper water from the shore along the west side of Maui will often yield these brief glimpses into spinner dolphin life.

As with so many marine animals the best approach is often to allow the animals themselves to approach you. After all, you are not going to out swim a dolphin! Hanging motionless invites a closer inspection. It really is a case of being there and allowing the choice to be made by the dolphins.

Often times I simply hang out in deep waters and enjoy the blues, but when a pod comes near it really makes my day! Here a mom keeps her calf snuggled close against her body in the "echelon" position.

I can't think of a better way to simply hang out on Maui!

Visit www.wildlifeimages.net for more dolphin photos.

Sweet Greens and Blues of Maui

2008-11-25T00:42:00.008-07:00

June 2008
Green Sea Turtles in clear blue water here on Maui. In my dreams I am often floating suspended in warm, salty water, surrounded by these ancient animals. Scientist believe marine turtles to have been here on our planet for about 450 million years.

Such a privilege to hang suspended in late afternoon light, a little tune by James Taylor lightly playing in the back of my mind...

Sweet greens and blues

Are the colors I choose

Won't you let me go down in my dreams?

Just like CT, green sea turtles must return to the surface to breath air...

Reflected light off a beautiful carapace on the sea's surface.

Hovering motionless invites a curious pass, just what odd creatures we "youngsters" (evolutionarily speaking) must seem to a green sea turtle!

Here is evidence that the seemingly slow and stately lifestyle of turtles isn't always so carefree...every now and then a shark comes by and jolts a turtle back into reality!

Visit www.wildlifeimages.net to see more of my marine photography.

I'd like to be...

2008-11-25T00:22:00.007-07:00

June 2008
What a pleasant find! An adult day (or Cyanea octopus) changing color and texture in the marine preserve at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of Maui. The Hawaiian name for this octopus is he‘e.

This is the same octopus as above, only now going for its "textured" look! Day octopus are unusual because they are active during daylight hours (diurnal) and extremely adept at camouflage.

This octopus grew so comfortable with us that it actually seemed curious about CT's waving blond hair!

Octopus exhibit rapid growth, an early age at first maturity, and a short lifespan – living approximately one year and dying after spawning. Octopuses are the most intelligent invertebrates, with mental capabilities comparable to that of the average house cat.

Maze and problem-solving experiments show that they have both short- and long-term memory, although their short lifespans limit the amount they can ultimately learn.

I'd like to be

under the sea

In an octopuses garden

in the shade!

He's let us in

knows just where we've been

in his little hideaway

beneath the waves.

We could be so happy you and me

no one there to tell us what to do

I'd like to be

under the sea

in an octopuses garden

with you!

Goodbye to the good ship Polaris

2008-11-23T07:04:00.004-07:00

May 2008
The one constant in life is inevitable change, and here in the Galapagos there is no exception to that rule. After a life time of plying the ocean's of the world, and then spending the last ten years here in the Galapagos exclusively, the Lindblad expedition ship Polaris will retire in April of 2009.

What better legacy than the tens of thousands of people from around the world that the good ship Polaris has introduced to the "Enchanted Isles?" Under her tenure literally millions of dollars have been raised in conservation efforts for the protection and preservation of the Galapagos. She will be sorely missed from these waters.

But of course the closing of one chapter is always the opening of a new one. Lindblad Expeditions will reposition the National Geographic Endeavour to the Galapagos to replace the Polaris in May of 2009. I will have the pleasure and privilege to sail on the very first two voyages in the Galapagos on board the NG Endeavour, both expeditions will be photo expeditions and I would love to join you there. Please check out the details at www.expeditions.com. See you in 2009!

Galapagos underwater Ballet

2008-11-23T06:50:00.006-07:00

May 2008
With so many animals to chose from in this "target rich" photographic dream world it would be hard for me to pick one animal that is my favorite photographic subject, but I would have to say it is hard to beat the pure energy and curiosity exhibited by Galapagos sea lions!

Endlessly curious about snorkeling photographers and the absolute epitome of speed and grace underwater I often feel I am at the ballet rather than a remote island archipelago hundreds of miles off the coast of Ecuador.

So come and join the fun, you can be part of the choreography and swim with stars, just as Juan Carlos is doing here!

We must seem so ungainly and sluggish in the world of sea lions, but they delight in our presence anyway (and where else are you going to find that combination?)

Yep, for pure unbridled energy and curiosity it has to be Galapagos sea lions!

Taking flight in the Galapagos

2008-11-22T06:05:00.008-07:00

May 2008
A juvenile great frigatebird so close you can almost touch it in flight!

Juvenile great frigatebirds vying for fish on the wing on north Seymour Island.

Pink flamingo grace and beauty reflected in afternoon light.

Pink patterns on a blue canvas.

Waved albatross having an animated discussion about current events on Espanola Island.

Adult waved albatross exhibit a very intricate behavioral activity when courting potential mates. This species of albatross is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Faces of the Galapagos

2008-11-22T05:16:00.011-07:00

May 2008
With so many different types of animals in the Galapagos to choose from, it is often hard to decide just which subject warrants your attention. Now on my fifth voyage here in the islands I am still fascinated by the many "faces" of this enchanted place - like this nestled blue-footed booby.

A messy but content giant tortoise at lunch time!

I recently purchased a Canon G9 point-and-shoot camera and have to say that it is an absolute blast to find macro subjects like this small spider and pose it so that it looks HUGE (and scary!)

The ubiquitous and very curious lava lizard is to be seen everywhere here.

A Sally lightfoot crab make for a dramatic splash of color on the dark volcanic shoreline.

The whimsical "face" of the endemic giant apuntia cactus, found only here in the Galapagos.

National Geographic collection editor Steve St. John at sunrise from the Zodiac.

Pink flamingos posing in late afternoon light.

So come to the Galapagos and satisfy your own curiosity. I will again be leading photo expeditions here in May of 2009. For more details go to www.expeditions.com

Furry critters in the Galapagos!

2008-11-22T05:00:00.008-07:00

May 2008
With such a plethora of critters running, swimming, and soaring in the Galapagos it is so very nice to find some "lazy" but VERY cute Galapagos sea lions hauled out and sleeping on the sugar sand beach at Gardner Bay on Espanola Island.

In the late spring moms and pups find each other after mom returns from a foraging trip out to sea.

Lindblad photo team member Jennifer Davidson practicing her sea lion yoga!

With seemingly not a care in the world and plenty of time to bask in the sun these sea lions show us the meaning of "siesta"!

Not as mellow as a Galapagos sea lion this Galapagos fur seal is a much more feisty critter!

IN fact when you put two males in close proximity to each other a boisterous mock battle may ensue!

Looking more like Sumo wrestlers these fur seals push and shove, throwing their body weight into the contest as they try to establish just who is top seal on the lava hill!

Please visit www.wildlifeimages.net to see more of my photography.

Galapagos below the surface

2008-11-10T17:53:00.010-07:00

May 2008
A green sea turtle glides over the reef off the west side of Isabella Island.

The strangely shaped oceanic sunfish (Mola mola) in deep waters off the NW side of Isabella Island.

Here a pair of mola molas glide by my underwater housing.

While they look so comical above water, the true grace and purpose of penguins become obvious underwater. Here is the only penguin species in the northern hemisphere!

Trying to follow this Galapagos penguin as it zips through this school of bait fish is almost impossible with my large and heavy camera housing!

White-tipped reef shark patrolling the reef.

Snorkeling with a curious white-tipped reef shark.

I just absolutely LOVE these Galapagos sea lions! I promise they will get their own section here on my blog soon. Here's to putting your foot in its mouth!

Iguanamania in the Galapagos!

2008-11-10T17:08:00.010-07:00

May 2008
The endemic Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador.

Reflected sunrise light on a group of resting marine iguanas in calm waters near Cerro Dragon (dragon hill) on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.

Sunset over a group of marine iguanas gathered together to absorb the sun's heat on black lava.

This iguana is unique among all iguanas worldwide to feed exclusively underwater on algae.

Watching an iguana forage in the ocean is a unique experience indeed!

Reflected sunrise in calm water lagoon.

A marine iguana surfacing after foraging for algae.

A marine iguana pulling itself up onto a lava flow after going to sea to feed on algae.

Sunrise an a group of sleeping marine iguanas (lower right side of photo).

Visit www.wildlifeimages.net to see more of my wildlife photography.

Alaskan critters

2008-11-10T10:33:00.010-07:00

May, 2008
Curious harbor seals hauled out on a submerged log inspect the Zodiac as slip past. My what BIG eyes you have!

An adult bull Orca encountered in Inian Pass traveling towards Dundas Bay.

Fast and slick, a river otter scampers from the water to take cover in the forest.

Looking for early vegetation on Gloomy Nob, this mountain goat doesn't seem too interested in our passing ship.

Steller sea lions hauled out and NOISY on South Marble Island.

An adult (L) and juvenile (R) bald eagle on pilings just outside of Sitka.

Common mergansers "running" across the water to take flight.

A gorgeous male Harlequin duck decked out in his finest breeding plumage.

A pair of Barrow's goldeneyes at the beginning of breeding season.

Canada geese on the wing over snow and ice.

Spring is in the (Alaskan) air!

2008-11-10T10:05:00.009-07:00

April, 2008To take a boat from Seattle, Washington to Juneau, Alaska along the inside passage is always a treat. To be among the very first expedition ships of the season is absolutely wonderful! The National Geographic Sea Lion left Seattle on April 29 to run north to Alaska.

The advantages of early season are numerous, but among the best is to see winter's grip slowly being released on the landscape.

Early season brings unexpected discoveries like these herring roe on kelp leaves.

Snow and ice retreat from glacier-carved valleys in Glacier Bay National Park.

Views of Grand Pacific glacier from the National Geographic Sea Lion in Glacier Bay National Park, Southeast Alaska, USA.

What a treat...having U.S. Customs come to us! Here our agents arrive at the ship via float plane in Kynoch Inlet.

CT gets a little kayaking session in.

Reflected light in perfect conditions!

At journey's end beautiful Mendenhall Glacier awaits us!

Whales and Dolphins of the Gulf of California

2008-11-09T07:15:00.014-07:00

Spring 2008
This magical place called the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) is home to over 30 species of whales and dolphins. It is absolutely one of the best places in the world to come and see everything from the largest whale (shown here, a blue whale surfacing) to the smallest (the endemic Vaquita, a tiny porpoise that lives in the extreme upper Gulf). So what are you waiting for? This is the place and the time is NOW!

Approaching 60 feet this fin whale is the second largest animal on the planet, after the blue whale shown above. Here in the Gulf there is a unique population of over 400 resident individuals that live in these waters year round. How can you tell that it is a fin whale? Easy, the right side lower jaw is white where the upper is dark.

Even from a distance and not fully out of the water that white lower jaw is easy to spot!

Short-finned pilot whales are often seen in large pods here as well.

With their bulbous heads and huge, rounded dorsal fins (especially noticeable in adult bulls), pilot whales roam the entire length and breadth of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez.)

What a pleasure to see them in glass-flat conditions, here just north of Santa Rosalia.

A head-on look at an adult male in clear waters!

A joyful bottlenose dolphin gives us a look as it leaps in the bow wake.

Long-beaked Common Dolphins happen to be the most common of all dolphins here in the Gulf, and we often encounter them in our travels. Notice the two remoras attached firmly to the flank and belly of this leaping long-beaked!

Side-by-side and racing along the ship. I particularly love the reflections!

Motion blur on the bow while surfacing in tandem.

So perfectly hydrodynamic! Notice how this dolphin is "lifting" the water as it gets ready to surface.

Jorobadas saltan!

2008-11-09T06:46:00.006-07:00

Spring 2008
Although humpback whales (called jorobadas in Spanish) can be found within the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in every month of the year, it is in the winter and springtime that newborn calves are abundant. From January until April are the best viewing months, and here on the Gorda Banks off San Jose del Cabo is one of the best places to see them breach (Salta!)

These two adult humpback whales are just outside Puerto Escondido ("hidden port" in Spanish) and are exhibiting classic courtship behaviour. Males will often perform all sorts of aerial displays when courting females...awesome!

Here a young calf, probably less than two months old, learns how to breach in waters just off Cabo san Lucas in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez.)

Sunset over the Baja Peninsula and this young humpback is really arching its way over backwards. Baja is such an amazing place to get to see jorobadas...que les vayan bien!

Please visit http://www.wildlifeimages.netto see more of my photos., Gracias!