Thursday, August 23

This morning we started our trip by seeing the humpback whale named Geometry. 

He came up close to the boat and while we waited for him to resurface, a couple of minke whales were seen closely too!  Then we saw some splashing in the distance and we went to investigate. More humpback whales! These were the Tremendous Trio: Spoon, her calf and Jabiru!  We’ve been seeing these three together for a while now. Today, Jabiru breached first, and then Spoon and her calf followed! 

Jabiru

Spoon

Spoon's calf

 It was an amazing demonstration of humpback whale behavior! After they settled down, we continued on to find two more humpback whales. This pair was pretty mellow, not even lifting their tails!

Based on their dorsal fins, these ended up being Victim and Ravine.

This afternoon, we found a pod of about 75 Atlantic white sided dolphins on our way out. They would all be up together and then all down together. We got great views of them as they cruised right next to the boat.    

Next, we found Victim and Ravine again. They were behaving the same as this morning- seemingly sleepy and not fluking.  Just as we were leaving, Victim decided to fluke!   

Moving on, we saw splashing on the horizon. This turned out to be Patches (the brochure-whale of Granite State Whale Watch). By the time we got close to him, he began to slap his flippers on the water.  Before we knew it, another humpback whale, Geometry, came in and was hanging out with Patches.

In the distance we could see more breaching. This was Spoon, her calf and Jabiru once again!  Although we didn’t see any of them breach close by, we did get amazing close looks, especially of Jabiru as she swam right to the boat and then dove right under us! 

A harbor seal was spotted briefly as was a minke whale. Great day!

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

This morning our trip started with a pod of 50-60 Atlantic white-sided dolphins. As these whales zipped through the water we got some fantastic looks at these speedy toothed-whales!

Dolphin!

This Atlantic white-sided dolphin belly-flopped a few times after jumping clear out of the water!

We then saw a napping fin whale, six minke whales and six humpback whales. Just like the fin whale, most of our humpback whales were napping. Such mellow mammals this morning!

Humpback whale

Minke whale

Known individuals included Geometry, Spoon and her calf, Victim and Jabiru. Spoon awoke a few times to smack her massive flipper on the surface. Wow, what a big flipper!

Spoon and her calf

Spoon slowly raising her flipper above the waterline

Spoon on her side

Flipper!!!

Pair of humpback whales

This afternoon we saw seven humpback whales. We started the trip with Spoon and her calf and no surprise here they were napping! But without any warning (which is typical being that we are gazing upon wildlife) these whales became quite active. Both mom and calf tail-breached and lob-tailed, sometimes in unison. Spoon even full-body breached a couple of times. After all that flurry of activity, napping resumed again.

Spoon tail-breaching

Moments later, Spoon's calf tail-breaches!

Spoon's calf spy-hopping

Like mother, like calf. Spoon and her calf simultaneously lob-tailing

Spoon lob-tailing belly-up!

Breach from Spoon!

We checked out Geometry briefly who also breached, saw a few distant whales and spent time with a trio of humpback whales.

Geometry

Our group of whales included Victim and Fan. Again, mostly napping but Fan would roll over on her side frequently during our time with them. Such interesting behaviors and moments throughout the entire day today!

Victim

Trio of humpback whales

Fan just hanging out on her side

Monday, August 20, 2018

We attempted to venture offshore this morning but the ocean was still too angry from all the wind the day before. We ended up having to turn around and wait a few more hours before heading back into the Gulf of Maine for whale activity this afternoon. During our afternoon trip we found ourselves a pod of 20 Atlantic white-sided dolphins and four humpback whales!

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

Atlantic white-sided dolphin breaking the surface

The dolphins became associated with Patches the humpback whale and before long another humpback whale, Geometry, joined in the fun!

Geometry

After some looks at all of these mammals we checked out another pair of humpback whales. From a distance Victim and Fan were seen breaching. They ended up settling down once we made our way into the the area. Victim spent most of her time at the surface and got some great looks as this pair moved through the water together.

Victim and Fan

Fan

High arching fluke from Fan

Saturday, August 18, 2018

We have been extremely fortunate to have experienced some incredible trips this season. At times I think, there is no way the trips could get better. And then they do. This morning we saw at least three minke whales, six humpback whales, three fin whales, two pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins and two black terns! Our dolphins were fantastic swimming close by the boat.

Our first whale sighting of the day, a pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins

The first humpback whales we saw were Pinball and Hornbill moving independently of each other.

Pinball

Hornbill

We also spent time with a trio of humpbacks. These animals included Clipper, Quote and another whale yet to be identified.

Clipper and Quote

Clipper

Quote

Black tern

This black tern spent time flying alongside the boat

During our travels back to Rye Harbor we ended up finding another group of Atlantic white-sided dolphins and even a fin whale!

Second pod of dolphins!

Fin whale

This afternoon we again saw two different pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, six to eight minke whales, a LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE(!!!!), seven humpback whales and an Atlantic puffin!! So much variety!!!

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Dolphin surfacing

Leatherback sea turtle!!! (above and below)

Puffin!!!

The humpback whales in the area included Spoon, Spoon's 2018 calf, Jabiru, Patches, Geometry, Victim and Fan.

Spoon and Jabiru

Fan

No matter where you looked there was a whale surfacing nearby and that was after our rare sightings of a sea turtle and a puffin! It is still overwhelming to think about all the incredible creatures we saw today.

More dolphins this afternoon!

Whale tail