On our way to Klamath, California we stopped at a visitor center. Along with brochures we received the news that a Gray Whale and her calf had been feeding in the Klamath for two or three weeks near one of the campgrounds. Was it the one where we had reservations?
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| You're looking the wrong way! |
Yes! The whales were swimming up and down in a circuit of about a tenth of a mile, ending in front of the campground.
It is hard to get good photos of whales. They tend to look like an amorphous blob and are about the same color as the water on a gray day. As with all animal photography, it is good if you can get the eye and here I did.
At times they were on the surface to breath.
Then they would submerge and be invisible for several minutes.
Gray whales are bottom feeders. They feed in shallow water, rolling on their side to scoop mud off the bottom and then forcing the mud through their baleen with their long, strong tongue. Then they lick the small tube worms and crustaceans off the baleen and scoop up some more.
The calf came up and briefly rested its head on the mother's back. It gave a good view of the mouth, the eye at the corner of the mouth and the blowholes.
Find more watery views at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.
If you are nearby and the whales are still there, here is a link to a map of the viewing area. Only registered campers are allowed in the campground but there was good viewing from the road.
More information about gray whales.
