Blue views

On Sunday, I mentioned that we had great views of a few groups of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) during the boat trip to Bodega Canyon and Cordell Bank on 14 October 2018.  They're impressive animals, so I can't help but show a few more images.  [You can click on the pictures for larger versions.]

With spout:

 

Two individuals close together:

 

Silvery:

 

 

Mottled: 

 

 

With diatoms (the bronze patches) on its skin:

 

 

Flukes!

 

 

One Blue Whale was fairly close to Bodega Head.  I'm not sure of the distance, but it might have only been 1-2 miles from the coast:

 

Even though they aren't often visible from land, I love knowing that Blue Whales are spending time offshore of Bodega Head.