Don Alley - 11-4-2007 at 04:14 PM
Natalie Ann - 11-4-2007 at 05:07 PM
Great whale shot, Don.
What kind, do you know?
Taken recently?
Ken Bondy - 11-4-2007 at 05:14 PM
Great classic shot Don!! Bravo!!
++Ken++
Paulina - 11-4-2007 at 05:17 PM
I'm guessing Fin, Pilot, or Brides whale.
P<*)))><
elizabeth - 11-4-2007 at 05:19 PM
Yup, sure does look like a whale!!! Great shot...when...where? Looks to be off Isla Carmen.
[Edited on 11-5-2007 by elizabeth]
Don Alley - 11-4-2007 at 06:12 PM
I believe it's a fin whale. Our guide book says there are resident fin whales in the SOC. The shot was taken this morning, between Loreto and Carmen
Island. We saw two of them.
Wiles - 11-4-2007 at 06:48 PM
GREAT Picture Don!!!!
The sharply falcated or curved dorsal fin tells me it is a Sei or Bryde's whale.
My guess is that it did not fluke or lift it's tail out of the water when going for a longer or deeper dive, right?
Adults are about 45 - 55 ft. in length.
Hard to distinguish between Sei & Bryde's w/o seeing the head as Sei's have 3 ridges on top between snout and blowholes, Bryde's only 1.
Both species common in the SOC.
Finbacks dorsal fin less curved, and pale white chevrons between blowholes and dorsal. Commonly show flukes on longer dives. Much larger at 75 - 85
ft.
I've seen your other whale pics you've posted here. Really good stuff.
Thanks.
edit: spelling
[Edited on 11-5-2007 by Wiles]
Don Alley - 11-4-2007 at 07:01 PM
Thanks for the info. You're right, they did not show their flukes.
I'm not as up to speed with mammal identification as fish. Especially the dolphins and porpoises.
Wiles - 11-4-2007 at 07:42 PM
Maybe not, but you're always prepared. Sticks ready for fish, and camera ready for whales. Bet you turn on every bird you see too.
Good luck Cap