Closeup: Following its mother's example, a newborn Humpback whale calf gamely performs a more subdued breach as it's mother splashes back into the water after performing her own breach. 19 Jan 2014
My BEST shot of a “baby-belly breach." 26 January 2014
Doing an acrobatic backward-facing breach, a newborn Humpback displays its ventral pleats (linear accordion-like grooves) that allow Humpies to expand the volume of their mouth cavities. 25 January 2014.
Following its mother's example, a newborn Humpback whale calf gamely performs a more subdued breach as it's mother splashes back into the water after performing her own breach. 19 Jan 2014
Doing an acrobatic backward-facing breach, a newborn Humpback displays its ventral pleats (linear accordion-like grooves) that allow Humpies to expand the volume of their mouth cavities. 25 January 2014
Rolled onto its back in the water, a mature whale performs numerous fluke slaps, displaying the distinctive coloration on the ventral aspect of its flukes. 9 February 2014
A Humpback whale calf performs a half-breach. 19 Jan 2014
This young Humpie continued its fluke-slapping for nearly 20 minutes! 26 January 2014
A lone Humpback whale "spy-hopping" just outside Ma'alaea Bay, Maui. 18 Jan 2014
A newborn Humpback whale calf gamely attempts a few clumsy breaches as its mother cruises along just behind it, keeping a watchful eye on her rapidly-developing child. 19 Jan 2014
Its flukes still tender from a prolonged round of high-energy fluke-slapping, a young whale performs a gentle flukes-up dive. 15 February 2014
19 Jan 2014
A young Humpback whale calf, probably born a few weeks previous, performs a series of progressively more skillful breaches. Its mother trails behind, at right, just out of the picture. 19 Jan 2014
Double breach by a cow and her calf. 19 Jan 2014
A rare "double breach" performed by a cow and calf; mothers of newborn Humpback whales are often seen performing this and other behavior with their newborns, apparently teaching to do "whale stuff." 19 Jan 2014
A Humpback whale calf breaches, seemingly jumping for the sheer enjoyment. 19 Jan 2014
