Desi
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2011
- Messages
- 832
- Reaction score
- 378
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
I saw these out by West Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park near Los Angeles.
We had already seen a large pod of common dolphins as seen here: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/350137-breaking-glass.html
The common dolphins move fast. These Risso's dolphins were quite large and moved slowly in a small group. We thought they were whales, but an internet search closer to shore helped ID them.
Per Wikipedia, they are the largest of the dolphin species. They are quite common, though they prefer deep water (which, I suppose, is why no one I know has ever heard of them). They start out grey, but become more white as they age. They pick up markings apparently from social interactions.
We were under sail with very poor winds at the time, so I couldn't follow them and they seemed quite disinterested in us.
Enjoy,
Desi
1.
Risso's dolphin by Desi595, on Flickr
2.
Rissos dolphins by Desi595, on Flickr
We had already seen a large pod of common dolphins as seen here: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/350137-breaking-glass.html
The common dolphins move fast. These Risso's dolphins were quite large and moved slowly in a small group. We thought they were whales, but an internet search closer to shore helped ID them.
Per Wikipedia, they are the largest of the dolphin species. They are quite common, though they prefer deep water (which, I suppose, is why no one I know has ever heard of them). They start out grey, but become more white as they age. They pick up markings apparently from social interactions.
We were under sail with very poor winds at the time, so I couldn't follow them and they seemed quite disinterested in us.
Enjoy,
Desi
1.
Risso's dolphin by Desi595, on Flickr
2.
Rissos dolphins by Desi595, on Flickr