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10.22.2009

October 22, 2009

Today we found some very lazy whales out on the Bank! We had another humpback mom and calf who were logging (or sleeping, for whales). Perhaps they were trying to get in a good last nap before their long trip south. We were able to get up very close to this pair and get some great looks! Since they were resting, and it was a calm day, we decided to shut off the boat's engine. It was such a unique occasion to just sit and listen to the water and these whales taking -- very loud -- breaths while they slept. We thought they might wake up a little, but they seemed to not be too interested in that. Like all wild animals, they just do what they want, when they want. It was a gorgeous day out on the water though, and a great (almost) last trip of the season!
~Jackie O'Mara, Naturalist

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9.24.2009

September 24, 2009

Today we had a gorgeous day out on the water and saw a ton of whales! Our first whale of the day was a logging humpback. This whale was having a VERY lazy day, so after a few looks, we left it to keep napping in peace. We then found a pair of whales going on some dives, but giving us some good looks while they were at the surface. While we were waiting for them to come back up from a dive, we got some great looks at a mola mola who was floating nearby! After this we found Division and another humpback doing some similar diving behaviors as the previous whales. Then we saw a little splashing going on in the distance and came across at least 4 or 5 humpbacks diving quickly and kicking their flukes. They seemed to be trying to churn up some food, and sure enough, soon afterward the whole group began doing a variety of feeding behaviors all around the boat (including a big bubble net right next to us)! During this time a little minke popped up, perhaps for a snack of it's own. It was great to end the trip with such exciting activity! On the way home we even spotted another mola mola!
~Jackie O'Mara, Naturalist

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8.20.2009

August 20, 2009 Afternoon Trip


Photo by Melissa Rocha

We had some of the same whales that we saw on our morning's trip, with one exception. On our morning trip we had Pinpoint doing some flipper slapping and Liner and Alpha were logging, and Venom had left the group. This afternoon though, Pinpoint was off in the distance with another whale watch boat and Venom was back with Alpha and Liner and was doing the flipper slapping this time! Venom did a great job of showing off her large pectoral flippers! It is uncommon to see baleen whales traveling together they are usually solitary, not to mention all adults. Liner is a large female who showed off for us a little by doing a beautiful tail lob before diving!

~Melissa Rocha, Lead Naturalist

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8.19.2009

August 19, 2009 Morning Trip

On this morning trip we came across some Atlantic white-sided dolphins! A special treat as we don't get to see dolphins all that often out on our trips. We also came across some humpbacks whales, first we spotted Alpha doing some deep feeding; we would see some bubbles being blow under the surface, then he would surface with his mouth just slightly open straining water. There was also another whale close by Alpha but only up at the surface for a few minutes. On our way home we passed by Fulcrum and her calf doing some logging or resting, giving us really nice looks at their bodies. We could see how big the calf is, yet pretty small compared to mom Fulcrum. ~Melissa Rocha, Lead Naturalist, photos by Melissa Rocha

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8.14.2009

August 14, 2009 Afternoon Trip

This afternoon we came across several minke whales that were doing a whole lot of moving. We got some pretty close looks at the shy little minke, then headed a bit south and found a few more whales; this time humpbacks. Anvil and calf came right up to the boat for a few minutes, but were still going on a few long dives. We moved on to a single adult humpback who was logging right next to the boat! Some great close looks!
~Emily Griffin, Naturalist

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7.18.2009

July 18, 2009 Afternoon Trip

The fog from this morning quickly burned off leaving us with a beautiful afternoon! We came across a pair of humpbacks logging, and as we moved in they became very interested in the boat! One of these whales was IDed as Tear. Maybe they were as eager for an afternoon of "people-watching" as we were for whale watching!
~ Emily Griffin, Naturalist

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5.18.2009

May 17, 2009 Afternoon Trip


Photo by Melissa Rocha

On our PM trip we had several humpback whales, and a fin whale, and minke whales as well! Three of the more commonly seen species. We first got some beautiful looks at 2 logging (resting) humpbacks, this gave us a great look at how graceful they are by swimming right next to the boat and diving underneath! Then we saw one of my favorite humpbacks, Fulcrum, and her calf for this year! Her calf was doing some rolling for us showing us all it's little ventral pleats and flipper off. We had Fulcrum the other day too, but it's always nice to see a mom and calf, it gives a great idea of how big they are even as babies!
~ Melissa Rocha, Lead Naturalist

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4.28.2009

April 28, 2009

Photos from the day's whale watch taken by Kristina Campbell:


Photo Courtesy of Kristina Campbell


Photo Courtesy of Kristina Campbell


Photo Courtesy of Kristina Campbell


This is what Kristina and her daughter Maya had to say about the trip:
"The views of these extraordinary creatures were magnificent and a day at
sea on your comfortable boat was the icing on the cake."

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9.19.2008

September 10


photo by naturalist Melissa Rocha

Whales were doing lots of resting and deep feeding today. In the morning they were feeding below the surface and coming up with their mouths full of water, the water was then being forced out through their baleen plates to strain their food. In the afternoon most of the whales we saw and we saw quite a few were logging or resting. Whales will rest whenever they need or get the chance too. They don't have bedtimes like us.

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7.28.2008

July 25, 2008


photos by naturalist Melissa Rocha

On July 25th, our whale watch trips gave us some great looks up close at several Humpback whales. Some of the whales on the trip were doing an activity known as logging. Logging is when a whale is resting. Whales have to breath air so they need to rest by the surface of the water. A few of the humpback came right up next to the boat, and gave everyone on board some AMAZING looks, at their size and what they look like.

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