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2009 whale sightings reports: ________________________ 2008 WHALE SIGHTINGS REPORTS: View photographs and view sightings reports from the memorable 2008 whale watching season 2009 PELAGIC BIRD REPORTS : A new section of this site reserved just for ocean birds and birders |
2009 WHALE SIGHTINGS REPORT: June 12, 2009 Total Sightings: 5 HUMPBACK WHALES, 2 FINBACK WHALES, and 1 MINKE WHALE
Humpback Whale Breaching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photographed from the 7 Seas Whale Watch Vessel Privateer IV in June 2009 Our first whale sighting of the day was of a beautiful FINBACK WHALE on the northern edge of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This whale afforded us great looks at both the right and left sides of its body which is significant because Fin Whales are the only “asymmetrically” colored whale… the left side is a very dark, smoky gray while the right side is a much lighter gray, even brilliant white along the upper jaw.
Right Jaw (lighter-side) of the Finback Whale. June 2009
Left Jaw (darker-side) of the Finback Whale. June 2009 It is believed that this asymmetrical coloration is a feeding adaptation that allows the whale to use that huge (remember the Fin Whale is the second largest animal on Earth!) white lower jaw to corral and concentrate schools of fish into tight bunches (much in the way Humpback Whales use clouds of bubble to accomplish the same task) making it easier for the whale to feed. "Bubble-feeding" Humpback Whale. June 2009 This encounter with this enormous Finback was a great way to start trip but after a few good looks we ventured off towards the south in search of more whales. We needed to travel quite some distance but we eventually found them! First we came across a pair of HUMPBACK WHALES. At first I thought it was a pair of adult whales but a closer look revealed that it was actually a mother and calf pair! The mother was a well-known female called “Anvil” who “tail-breached” 4 times. This is when the whale will twist and throw the back 2/3rds of the body out of the water. After diving for a few minutes we sighted another pair of whales surface not too far away. Thinking this was Anvil and calf again we headed in their direction only to find that it was an entirely different mother and calf pair! This pair was “Reflection” and her new calf. This is a perfect example of why it is so important to be able recognize which individual whales we are seeing because it gives us the opportunity to get a very accurate picture of the number and variety of whales that are utilizing our area.
"Reflection's" calf breaching. If you have a fast internet connection click the "HD" button on the lower right of the YouTube player to view the video in greatest clarity.
"Reflection" and calf from earlier this month As if seeing a second mother and calf pair wasn’t enough, this pair ended up being the highlight of out trip. Reflection’s calf began breaching (leaping from the water) shortly after we found them (occasionally stopping only to pound the water with its flippers.) I was able to get some decent footage of the breaching and you can see it above. Also above is some video of Reflection and calf from earlier this season. These two are proving to be quite a pair! On the way back in to Gloucester we sighted a second Finback Whale, a fifth Humpback Whale, and a lone Minke Whale bringing our total number of whales for the day up to 8. All while the rainy, foggy AM skies cleared into a brilliant spring afternoon! Not a bad morning on the water at all! BIRD STUFF The birding has been great recently. Large numbers (100+) of Greater Shearwaters and Wilson's Storm Petrels have been seen on nearly every trip along with smaller numbers (10-12+) Sooty Shearwaters. Other Highlights have included a Parasitic Jaeger on June 11th and 5 (!) Fulmars today (June 12th.) Here are some of my better recent bird photos (from both sea AND land:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ All photos on this page were taken aboard the 7 Seas Whale Watch boat "Privateer IV" Some of the BEST photographs on this site were taken aboard our whale watching trips by our good friend Oktay Kaya. To see more of Oktay's beautiful whale photographs and other wildlife pictures he has taken please visit his site at http://www.whalesandwhales.com
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Humpback Whale. June 2009
"Anvil" tail-breaching. June 2009
Humpback Whale Diving. June 2009
Immature Northern Gannet
Fulmar in the Rain
2 Fulmars
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker