August 12-13, 2024

There was only one word to describe Monday's trips: UNBELIEVABLE. As mentioned many times before, and many to come, each trip brings its surprises. Monday took our breath away, in so many ways. On Monday morning, the trip began with distant looks at Satula the humpback whale. This whale was on the move and only surfacing for a couple of breaths at a time. We also tried to check out a small pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, but "whale-luck" did not appear to be on our side. So, we aborted all of it and went looking for other activity. Glad we did! We came across two humpback whales, Shuffleboard and Chablis. We were finally getting some decent looks at wildlife when the whales' behavior changed, and we were in for an impressive treat. Both whales breached multiple times and then they both started to flipper slap! We haven't seen activity like this from adult humpback whales all season. WOW. 

Post-breaching by one humpback whale and pre-breaching surfacing by another humpback whale. Look at that whitewater!

Mid-head breach!

Another whale, another breach!

Flipper-slapping humpback whales

As if sightings couldn't improve, we found another (larger) pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins on our way home. 

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Then came Monday's afternoon trip. Based on our amazing morning activity, I thought there was no way we could reproduce sightings similar to those we had seen. Gosh, this was going to be a tough act to follow. Little did I know the whales had other plans in store for us. To start, thanks to Captain Rick on the Yellow Bird for sharing the news of what they were passing by on their travels home from their all-day fishing adventures. PILOT WHALES were in the area!!!!! 

PILOT WHALES!!!

The Granite State hasn't seen this type of whale since 2013!!! Oh my gosh! Many thanks to our fellow whale-watching boats who were equally astounded by the report and got on the scene to share the good news and location of these whales. Half of our crew had never seen pilot whales, so it was a very special day for us on board. 

Pilot whale calf photo-bombing the image 😃

Pilot whale playing with seaweed; so cute!

Pilot whales upside-down and right-side up

However, the excitement didn't end there. Not far from the pilot whales was a small pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins - the type of toothed whales we generally have the chance to see during our trips. 

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Before spending more time with the pilot whales in the area, another species of toothed whales was seen, BOTTLENOSE dolphins! It has been an even longer amount of time since we last saw bottlenose dolphins on one of our whale watches. 

Bottlenose dolphins

Bottlenose dolphin leaping through the air!

This day was getting more and more unbelievable at the moment. Once we finally started heading home, we checked out an ocean sunfish before one more type of toothed whale decided to swim right toward us: COMMON dolphins!!!! 

Sneaky subsurface ocean sunfish

Common dolphin

We had a GRAND SLAM of toothed whales, WHAT?!?! I am not sure how we became so lucky to witness so much wildlife in one day (granted it was one of our crew members, Molly's, Birthday!), but the entire crew is still in shock at what we witnessed. It all circles back to wildlife, being their wild selves and us being privy to such incredible marine mammals. Thank you, whales.

Tuesday provided its moments as each day, and each trip is unique. Tuesday was a prime example of those experiences on Jeffreys Ledge. During the morning trip, we checked out an ocean sunfish as we made our way offshore. 

Ocean sunfish

We then had a curious minke whale for a few surfacings. From there we continued searching and searching. We checked out many locations where we have had whale activity recently. This time, however, there were no whales. So, what do we do? Keep looking! We ended up finding a pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins and got some great looks at these toothed whales. 

Dolphins

Atlantic white-sided dolphins (above and below)

On Tuesday afternoon, our other whale-watching friends shared news they had found a pod of pilot whales! We checked out these whales, including their calves, as they swam through the area. 

Pilot whales!

Pilot whale

Pilot whale calf ❤

We also saw an ocean sunfish, a fin whale, and a large pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins. 

Ocean sunfish

Fin whale

Atlantic white-sided dolphin (above and below)

As always, the whales keep us on our toes, making every trip a one-of-a-kind experience!

August 10-11, 2024

With the remnants of Debby departing the area on Saturday morning, we were back out on the water Saturday afternoon. We attempted to get a look at a small pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, but these toothed whales were scattered and elusive, so we decided to press on toward Jeffreys Ledge. Before getting to the ledge, we saw a spout, which turned out to be Ravine the humpback whale. We've seen this whale a few times this season and it's nice to know it is still around.

On Sunday morning, we were fortunate to come across a pod of approximately 40 Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Once again, the group was spread out in small sub-pods, but it was a great way to start the day. Once on Jeffreys Ledge, we spent time watching Satula the humpback whale while a couple of minke whales popped up, and even a fin whale surfaced out in the distance. 

Humpback whale

A beautiful, and busy, day on the water. It is always important that no matter what size your boat to be vigilant of possible whale activity (especially when whale watching boats are nearby).

We also attempted to check out a basking shark, but the shark was uninterested in remaining near the surface long enough to get a good look at it. On Sunday afternoon, we returned to the same region of Jeffreys Ledge. This time, Scylla the humpback whale was spotted. It is always so interesting to witness the movements of whales in, and through, the area in such a short period.

August 8, 2024

 Thursday morning, our first sightings consisted of a very cooperative basking shark, granting us excellent looks as it slowly moved along at the surface, before also coming across a small pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins! 

Basking shark dorsal fin

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

After continuing along, we eventually came across Satula, an adult male humpback whale. 

Humpback diving

Ocean sunfish

While spending time with Satula, we were also passed by two different minke whales a little ways off of our bow. After starting our journey back towards Rye, we were able to make a quick stop with an ocean sunfish before our trip was done!

Thursday afternoon began the same way our morning trip ended, with an ocean sunfish! We were able to get excellent looks at our bony fish before continuing along to the southern end of Jeffrey's Ledge.

Ocean sunfish dorsal fin

After making our way south, we spent the rest of our afternoon with two humpback whales, Satula and Mogul. 

Distant humpback diving

Both of these whales were most definitely busy chasing down schools of fish, making us work a little extra hard to get some looks. Ultimately we got some breathtaking looks at Satula as he began circling bait beneath our boat, giving us some close looks before we made our journey back towards home!

Satula diving towards us!

August 5-6, 2024

Monday morning was a "sharky" kind of morning. As we traveled along, we saw five sharks - three basking sharks and two blue sharks. The calm seas helped immensely in looking for small dark fins breaking the surface. 

Basking shark dorsal fin

Subsurface blue shark

Whale-wise, we watched a humpback whale and a fin whale. Both whales were spending only a few minutes underwater, allowing great looks in beautiful seas. 

Humpback whale

Fin whale

On Monday afternoon, the first whale sighting of the trip was a pod of approximately 45 Atlantic white-sided dolphins. These toothed whales are always crowd-pleasers.

Atlantic white-sided dolphins leaping out of the water!

Offshore, we got some great looks at a fin whale. We briefly stopped on an ocean sunfish on our ride in, and to our surprise (especially our passengers!), it breached right next to the boat. Wildlife has a way of keeping us on our toes! 

Fin whale

Ocean sunfish moments before it breached! (I missed the breach, sorry!)

The weather kept us on land on Tuesday, so we'll wait and see what the ocean has in store for us on our next adventure.

August 3-4, 2024

On Saturday morning, our first stop was on a minke whale. We got some great looks as this whale was spending a good amount of time at the surface. 

Minke whale

Further offshore, we waited for a fin whale to resurface, but the fog rolled in, and we decided to press on to Jeffreys Ledge. Once on the Ledge, the fog continued to linger with us, but even so, we got some looks at humpback whales Clamp and her 2024 calf. 

Humpback whale (above and below)

On Saturday afternoon, we found ourselves out of the fog. Our first stop was on an ocean sunfish. 

Ocean sunfish

It turns out we saw at least five ocean sunfish during our travels. We also briefly saw two blue sharks. Offshore, we spent time with a fin whale circling the area. 

Fin whale (above and below)

The day ended with a look at a basking shark and a nursery pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins. What a variety of marine life seen throughout the day. 

Basking shark dorsal fin

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Dolphin calf; look at that face!

We only had a morning trip on Sunday because of the afternoon weather. We spent our time watching Sedge, the humpback whale. Originally this whale was on the move, but eventually started circling the area. 

Humpback whale

Humpback whale diving

During our travels home, we found a pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Everyone loves dolphins, and while we don't see them often, we have been lucky recently to come across them on our trips!

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

August 1-2, 2024

Thursday afternoon provided much needed reprieve from the high temperatures on land as we made our way offshore. Once we reached the ledge, we were able to spend time with three different humpback whales included Satula, Clamp, and the 2024 calf of Clamp. 

Humpback whale diving

Mom/calf pair of humpbacks

Whilst spending time with these humpbacks, we were also able to get quick looks at two passing minke whales as well as a single fin whale moving through the area. 

Satula Diving

Atlantic White-sided dolphin

Before we had to make our turn back towards Rye, we were granted looks at a small pod of white-sided dolphins moving through the area, briefly spending time around Satula. 

Beautiful surface conditions Friday morning gave way to an early sighting of a minke whale and an ocean sunfish, before we continued along out towards Jeffrey's Ledge. 

Ocean sunfish

Pinball diving

Once there, we spent time with four different humpback whales, including Clamp, her 2024 calf, as well as Pinball and Satula. Many of these whales leaving evidence of subsurface feeding behind as remnants of their bubble clouds began rising up towards the surface.

Mom/calf pair diving

mom/calf humpbacks

It was exciting getting the chance to see this calf raising its tail above the surface as it went down on deeper dives. Definitely not something we expect to see when we are lucky enough to come across calves, as fluking is a learned behavior passed on from mother to offspring. 

Friday afternoon was another case of the ocean helping us to beat the heat we were leaving behind on land! Our first encounter of the trip consisted of quick looks at an ocean sunfish before we pressed on further south in search of large whales. 

Ocean sunfish

Once on the ledge, we spent time between four humpback whales, Satula, Pinball, Clamp and her 2024 calf. 

Humpback whales surfacing

Pinball diving

Pinball and Satula were both darting around the area, very likely chasing down schools of fish, while Clamp and her calf were spending a lot of time resting before ultimately traveling near the surface. All the while, a minke whale was circling the area, providing us excellent looks as we waited for our humpback whales to resurface. 

Humpback mom/calf diving

Aug 1, 2024

Yesterday, July 31, we stayed at the dock due to high winds and rough seas. Fortunately, Thursday morning was much nicer with just a long swell coming in from the SE. 

We saw a small group of Atlantic white-sided dolphins to start off our trip, but these speedy critters had other things on their mind. A small harbor seal pup surfaced nearby as we were waiting for the dolphins to reappear.  Then we found a huge fin whale taking short dives and surfacing sporadically. 

After a bit more traveling, a few humpback whales surfaced along with another fin whale and a very social minke whale! Satula was the first whale we saw. He came up close to the boat briefly before moving on to find more food.

Next we saw a pair of humpbacks, Clamp and her calf! The calf was on its own for a bit while Clamp was busy feeding subsurface. They eventually rejoined and moved off on their merry way. 

Our trip home saw some harbor porpoises, an ocean sunfish and another small group of dolphins! 

Stay tuned for details from the afternoon trip on Aug 1!