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Over the past few days we have seen the large feeding group of Humpback Whales disperse into smaller groups and spread out across Stellwagen Bank. While this means that we have been seeing fewer whales per trip we have still had some excellent whale watches recently. For example, as I write this sightings report, we are on our way back in from Stellwagen Bank where we just left 1 Minke whale and 3 Humpback Whales. The Minke whale was spotted on the way out, and we observed it breach (leap from the water) 11 times (though mostly from a distance). This was a really neat way to start the trip as breaching Minke whales are a VERY rare sight. Customer comment for today’s trip: “...It was amazing - better than national geographic. Thank You! Also informative. You guys should start donations for the oil spill.” -Mercedes Seems as though they could use the help. (Post script: I just got home and see on CNN that “Top Kill method has failed”!!!) Then we went further south along Stellwagen Bank where we found the 3 Humpbacks: A single whale and a mother and calf pair. The mother was a very well known Humpback whale called “Echo”. This was our first sighting of Echo and her new calf this year. It’s always fun to see which of “our” whales will return with a new calf each spring so seeing Echo with a calf was exciting in itself. However Echo’s calf seemed determined to make a splash (I know, it’s a terrible pun, but I couldn’t resist) in his/her first appearance on Stellwagen Bank. We were watching Echo and calf traveling (south) when the calf unexpectedly breached right along side, in perfect light, and when just about everyone onboard was looking! The calf then took one breath and dove again. We could tell by the way the calf dove (moving quickly and plunging its head dramatically downward) that it was likely to breach again. Our naturalist, Jodi, made sure everyone was prepared in case it did and, sure enough, a few seconds later the calf leapt from the water a second time! Two Great Comments We Got Today From Kids: “It was great! I have never seen a whale with her calf or seen a whale breach! You guys are awesome!!! Keep up the good work.” -Jonathan One great thing about seeing Humpback whale calves breach is that they actually get more of their body out of the water than the adult do... presumably because they are smaller and not as bulky as the adults and thus don’t have to lift as much weight to become airborne. After doing these two spectacular breaches Echo and calf went back to traveling and other whale watch boats arrived on the scene. That’s when we decided to head a little further south and when we did we found the third Humpback whale. Favorite comment ABOUT kids: “Really appreciated the crew making sure kids could see” -Scott Despite the fact that we spotted “only” (and I don’t like using that word here) 4 whales this trip, it was still a great trip. Anytime you see a wild, endangered animal it is a good day. But when you get to see a special behavior like breaching or a mother with a new calf that makes it even more so. We don’t always get to see such behaviors, as this is a nature trip and the whales are not trained to perform for us. But with a little patience you can usually see something unexpected, which is what keeps people coming back over and over again. So we’ll see what happens of the next few days. Perhaps the whales will cluster together in one spot again as they have been all spring. Perhaps the whales will continue to spread out and become more scarce. We just don’t know. But check back soon for another update, or just come out and see for yourself. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend! Jay Frontierro 7 Seas Whale Watch

MAY 29, 2010

LATEST SIGHTINGS :

DATE May 29, 2010

location  Stellwagen Bank (24 miles from Gloucester)

WHALES 3 Humpback Whales,1 Minke Whale

BIRDS 15+ Northern Gannets, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Common Tern, 2 Common Loons

All Photos taken aboard the PRIVATEER IV :

WHALE SIGHTINGS   May 29, 2010

~ a site by S. Jay Frontierro with photographs by Oktay Kaya

Humpback Whale Calf Breaching

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Humpback Whale and Whale Watchers

Humpback WhaleMother and Calf

Echo (photo taken 2006)

The Privateer IV