Close
encounter -- Pacific Gray Whale 
-5-
Just before I took this last shot of one of my dreams come true, I
realized that my lens had become completely fogged in the pouring rain.
Fortunately, I had a dry lens cloth in my pocket and wiped off the front lens
element just before this Pacific Gray Whale
( Eschrichtius
robustus ) "pitch-poled" out of the water!
The deep ventral creases allow enlargement of the mouth cavity, and
distinguish this sole member of the Family Eschrictidae from other
Balaenopterids which have long parallel grooves that allow far greater
expansion.
(my most recent whale photos.)