Baby Gray Whale

[Ryguyinlj]

I was down shooting some surfing and skimboarding yesterday morning and all of a sudden this baby gray whale showed up and started checking us out. I thought I'd share...

[mdmc]

Ryguyinlj, the 4th pic is nice because of the spouting. Is this common ? If not, it might worth trying for a news paper submission. This woulda scared the shtuffin right outta me!Great shot. Mark. (landlocked).

[another view]

The second shot too - shows a sense of scale and how close he is to the beach. Yet another landlocked person...!

[Ryguyinlj]

Ryguyinlj, the 4th pic is nice because of the spouting. Is this common ? If not, it might worth trying for a news paper submission.

No, it is very rare. I have been going to the beach since I have been able to walk and I have never seen this. Usually they stay farther out at sea on their migratory route from mexico to alaska. And, usually the mother will be close by. We didn't see her. These whales get to be up to 20 meters long. they are BIG, and are baileen whales and don't have any teeth. They are also extremely doscile creatures.

I just submitted these photos to the Orange County Register. You were the third independent source that said to send to a newspaper.

[Speed]

I was down shooting some surfing and skimboarding yesterday morning and all of a sudden this baby gray whale showed up and started checking us out. I thought I'd share...

Cool shots! Nothing like being in the right place at the right time! And it pays to have your camera with us. Mine travels with me 90-95% of the time.

[paulnj]

I was down shooting some surfing and skimboarding yesterday morning and all of a sudden this baby gray whale showed up and started checking us out. I thought I'd share...

Please tell me this whale swam back out and didn't beach itself

[Ryguyinlj]

It didn't beach itself. After about 10 minutes it just swam away, back out to sea.

An interesting note, I sent these photos to my biology professor and he wantes to use them in his slide lectures. This is a big thing for me. They are going to be seen by hundreds of my peers on a very large screen.

[paulnj]

GREAT NEWS for both the whale and you!

BTW...

Since it seems you are somewhat interested in nature and seem to be at the beach alot, might you have images of the tufted puffins which reside in your area? The are on the cliffs in La Jolla ;)