What an incredible day. The ocean got better and better with each passing hour. The birds were flying and the whales were plentiful. This morning we saw 3 minke whales, 8-10 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, 7 humpback whales and a distant look at a fin whale on our way home.
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| Minke whale |
While our group of dolphins were on the smaller size we got some great looks at these toothed-whales before heading out to Jeffreys Ledge where even more life was waiting for us.
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| Atlantic white-sided dolphins |
Next we spent time with humpback whales Clamp, Hornbill, Pinball, Furrows, Satula and Wigwam and her 2018 calf. So many fantastic individuals!
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| Clamp |
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| The first sighting of Pinball for us this season! |
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| Satula |
The whales were busy zigging and zagging in every which direction as we attempted to check out as much as time allowed us.
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| Wigwam and her calf |
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| Humpback whale tail |
This afternoon we headed back offshore to see 2 minke whales and 6 humpback whales. To our surprise our first humpback whale was not even one we had seen during our morning travels. The trip started with Gondolier moseying around.
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| Gondolier |
We then saw Pinball, Clamp, Hornbill and Furrows.
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| Pinball |
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| Flat calm seas as a humpback whale exhales |
We even spotted another humpback whale on our way home but we have not been able to positively identify that individual. Today also marked the best pelagic birding of the season. Several great shearwaters and Wilson's storm petrels were sighted on both trips.
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| Could you ask for nicer conditions to view wildlife? Here a great shearwater sits on the flat calm sea |
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| Can you find the Wilson's storm petrel flying above this whale's tail? |
There were even a few sooty shearwaters spotted on our morning trip. What a great day in the Gulf of Maine with wonderful weather and wonderful wildlife.
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