A fluke of a fluke...

I went whale watching/photographing in the waters of the Sea of Cortez in the Gulf of California off of Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, last month(February 2025.) Whales are commonly spotted during Loreto's whale watching season, with peak sightings occurring in January and February/early March. During this time, the chances of encountering majestic creatures like gray whales and humpbacks are particularly high. I believe this was a blue whale displaying its fluke. What an exciting event, since not all the blue whales we encountered lifted up and flapped their flukes. The fins on the tails are called flukes and are used to achieve stability and refine their maneuvering through the vast ocean as they look for food. Today, blue whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. That is my understanding.

Nikon d750; Sigma 100-400mm/f5-6.3; Sigma TC X1.4

Edited in Adobe Lightroom