October 2011

What a season we have had so far. We continue to add to our whale sightings list as the month goes on bringing back some old friends and meeting some new ones including: Salt, Rattan, Longboard, Solo and her 2011 calf, Right Bar’s 2010 calf, Owl, Bullwhip, Bilbo, Kilter, Nile, Trident, Rocker, Palette, Komodo, Fan, Cajun, Hancock, Conflux, Geometry, Lavalier’s 2009 calf, and Sundown. Got some nice close ups with Salt, Rattan and Longboard. Salt and Rattan appeared a little larger than normal; some of us here at The Whale Center believe they might be pregnant. Hopefully we will see them with new calves next season. The whales were moving all around the area this month, traveling far north on Jeffreys Ledge and east of Stellwagen Bank, which made the days longer, but the trip was always worth it! There were a few days that included up to 20 humpback whales and finbacks, and large pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

We spent a couple days with Rocker who was seen in the vicinity of a group of females, possibly starting the courtship early as he was breaching and flipper slapping all around them. The next day, Rocker was paired up with Palette and they took turns breaching right next to each other! Geometry was also seen bubble net feeding on a rough weather day. Besides humpback whales, we also had many great sightings of a few different finback whales lunge feeding (included fin whale Dr. Strangewhale), and a group of at least 10 Sei whales lunge and skim feeding. We had a great surprise of a pod of long-finned pilot whales on the southern edge of Stellwagen Bank, which included a mom and calf pair. A third odontocete species we saw fairly often this month was the harbor porpoise.

October also brought an increase of North Atlantic right whale sightings. We observed a few animals skim feeding, as well as some Surface Active Groups (SAGS). This month we will be commencing our annual right whale survey on Jeffreys Ledge, as part of our long-term study to access the habitat use of the area, as well identify which individuals are seen in the area this time of year. Be checking our right whale blog on our website for updates! Although whale watch season is winding down, there is still a chance to have some more good sightings – it’s been a fantastic season this year, and we continue to be surprised.

September 2011

In September we split our time between Jeffreys Ledge and the Northwest corner of Stellwagen Bank – sightings were getting sparse on the southern edge of the bank, but the Northern edge had some consistent sightings of a few of our favorites. Many great days on the water this month, this included a day with 10 Sei whales feeding on krill (see evidence in the photo). Sei whales are a rare species to see on a whale watching trip, especially so many. On another day, five different species were observed over the course of two trips which included sei whales, the North Atlantic Right whale (critically endangered), a breaching minke whale (very cool and rare behavior for a Minke), a pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and of course, the humpback whale. Out of Gloucester and Boston we had several days with up to six (6) different humpback whales.

We also had occasional sightings of finback whales (see image of the unique markings of fin whales) and minke whales. And after seeing humpback whale Mogul all throughout the end of the summer, he put on a show for us doing a couple spinning head breaches, some lobtailing, and even some flipper slapping! Other trip highlights include: a couple mom and calf white-sided dolphin pairs riding the bow wave, a pair of humpbacks open mouth feeding, a pair of finback whales lunge feeding on their sides (very cool!), and all kinds of surface behaviors by the humpbacks! Some of the other whales we were able to identify in September besides Mogul include: Shuffleboard, Geometry, Apostrophe’s 2008 calf, Komodo, Condensation, Pixar, Snare, Jabiru, Owl, Clamp, Monster’s 2009 calf, Lutris, Forceps, Vault, and several other juvenile whales yet to be named.

August 2011

August was an amazing month. We saw over 100 individual humpback whales being active and showing off different types of feeding behaviors. Earlier in the month we had a wonderful show of over 100+ breaches from Longboard (image right); including head, flipper, and full spinning head breaches. As our trips continued we had plenty of good looks of open mouth feeding, flipper slapping, and kick feeding. We were also able to see some of our adopt-a-whales Coral, Ember, and Tear participating in a large feeding frenzy! This month Pivot seemed to keep stealing the show. One great day on the Aurora, there was some great open mouth feeding from Bounce, Epee, Habenero, Jumanji and Tear, but Pivot started doing some head breaches, then started rolling belly up so we could see her ventral pleats and she then finished the day with some flipper slapping. Later that week the Nora Vittoria had a trip with about 10 whales lunge feeding. About a 1/2 mile away Salt, Centipede, Polaris, Bounce and many more were bubble feeding. The show was yet again stolen by Pivot who lunged time and time again right by the boat!

This month the water was full of feed – and whales eating and eating! Many of our trips included lunge feeding (fin whale lunge, right), bubble cloud feeding, lobtailing and deep feeding. These behaviors are great to witness, because this is what we want to see these whales doing while they on Stellwagen Bank. These whales need to eat as much food as they can before they make their long journey to the Dominican Republic in late Fall – while they are in their breeding grounds they will then not eat for three months, due to the lack of nutrients in the Caribbean waters.

Late July 2011

Whales, whales, and more whales down on Southern Stellwagen Bank this week. Most of the boats in the area have been making the long trip to the Eastern corner of the bank, but the ride is almost certainly worth it. We have had large groups of humpback whales open mouth feeding together, in some cases up to (8) whales at once, coming up synchronized through the bubble cloud. These large associations are giving us a better idea of how these animals work together to feed as they show off their social side. As if the feeding was not enough we have also been seeing breaching, plenty of kick feeding, flipper slapping, and even some close to boat activity from some of the calves this year. We also spotted our favorite group back together again this week: Cajun, Perseid, Pele, Alphorn, Milkweed and Jabiru all cruising around the bank together. Our adopt-a-whales have been popular down south as well; we have been seeing Tear, Colt, Ember, and Coral. We’ve also been seeing Salt almost everyday this week. Other whales in the area this week include, Algebra, Storm, Abrasion, Tracer, Ampersand, Bolide and Calf, Venom and Calf, and Eruption, just to name a few. But we can’t forget our very special sighting this week, close to all of our hearts; Perseid’s 2010 Calf is BACK! We were all a little worried at the end of last season about the health of this young whale, but we are pleased to say this little one is back and doing well! This week has been nothing short of exciting, we are all looking forward to seeing what else the season holds!

July 2011

July was a spectacular month of sightings with lots of activity from our humpbacks! Large groups of whales (often between 5-10 individuals) came together to show us some orchestrated bubble feeding all throughout the month! We even got a chance to witness some possible cooperative feeding between species – A finback whale was side lunging one day with a juvenile humpback, and then on another day Sabot and her calf were seen lunging near a feeding finback whale. Speaking of calves, a few more additions to the group as Mudskipper (age 14) and Venom (unfortunately now missing part of her fluke) both returned with their first known calf, Ventisca brought back her second calf, Ganesh had her third calf, and Wizard was seen with her sixth calf!

Some of the best days out on the water included seeing some open mouth feeding close to the boat, including a whale that gave us an awesome look at the inside of the mouth. We had a day with three whales (Barb, Apostrophe and Scratch) breaching at the same time! Another day with some active breaching, one of the breachers (Epee) came up near the boat and then fell asleep right next to us (a behavior called logging). We had occasional sightings of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, including a group of 150. But one of the best sightings of the season had to be the day we came across a Sperm whale spending a bit of time at the surface. It had to have been 70 feet long (see image)! Other whales that we saw around Stellwagen Bank this month included: Peninsula, Entropy, Reflection, Doric and Habenero, Nile, Sloop, Satula, Diablo, Hornbill, Level, Soot, Putter, Pivot, Giraffe, Jumanji, Infinity, Pixar, Dracula, Strike, Exclaim, Pogo, Fracture, Jabiru, Etch-A-Sketch, Convict, Duckpin, Fern, Rapier 2009 calf, Swallowtail, Thumper, Rocker, Walrus and SALT!

June 2011

Increasingly better weather in June gave us more days out on the water! Sightings for June were great throughout the Stellwagen Sanctuary, often seeing (5-15) humpbacks and finback a day. We also began to see some new species come into the area such as basking sharks (see image right), Ocean Sunfish (image below), and several pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

In Southern Stellwagen we had busy days with numerous different groups of humpbacks and occasional finbacks and minkes, and even have a group of eight (8) Harbor seals one day! Both Jeffreys Ledge and southern Stellwagen Bank showed great activity - plenty of open mouth feeding with bubble nets in groups up to eight (8) humpbacks!

On Jeffreys Ledge Fulcrum hung out with Anchor. For a couple days we saw Sabot and her first calf who is very playful! We also saw Barb, Crystal (one of Salt’s male calves, now 31 years old), and Tulip with Sloop, Owl and Quote with Pinball who were deep feeding. Shark brought back a new a calf this year. Sedge was seen on multiple days, as well as HWC0050 who was first sighted in 1976 and is one of few humpbacks seen moving between different feeding grounds. Gondolier was spotted throughout the month (male first sighted 1990). Dross showed us some surface feeding. Hornbill and Milkweed were seen multiple occasions and Milkweed even gave us a farewell breach one day! Found Nile hanging out with Purity’s 2009 calf. Other sightings include: Lutris, Clamp, Satula, Flicker, Striation, and Siphon’s 2009 calf. We were also able to identify a finback whale seen up close called Ladder.

On Southern Stellwagen Joy spent time with Flounder, (Flounder was seen in many different groups often feeding at the surface). Cajun was flipper slapping close to the boat and with Fracture and Rocker. We also saw Barb and Anchor who traveled south from Jeffreys. Flounder was also seen with Touche on multiple days. Lots of bubble feeding from Springboard, and later by Flounder, Touche and Pogo. Had a large group including: Anchor, Cajun, Abrasion, Barb and Centipede, Dome and Touche. Compass was flipper slapping and breaching in the distance one day (Compass is a great-grandma to Perseid’s 2007 calf). We also identified Rattan with Polaris, as well as Harrow, Shuffleboard, Tectonic, Echo, Scratch, Thicket, and we were happily surprised by Bolide and her calf! One amazing trip we witnessed two (2) groups of four (4) humpbacks bubble feeding around the boat which became one large group of eight (8) including: Joy, Entropy, Abrasion, Touche, Level, and Stub (a male first sighted in 1979).

May 2011

Early on in May we saw Photon return with a calf (see image) which was playfully breaching as they traveled with a male escort named Measles, and we saw some kick feeding by Circus. Mid-May brought fog and rough weather, but occasional trips were made up to Jeffreys Ledge and Pigeon Hill which brought good fortune as we got some close up looks of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, finback whales, minke whales, and several humpbacks.

Early May 2011

Our 2011 season started off much the same way our 2010 season ended—with fewer of our more well known humpback whales, and more of our sightings being lesser studied species such as finback whales, minke whales, Sei whales (see image), and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. We had heard reports of groups of humpback whales off of Cape Cod, but this April as in previous springs we were dealing with speed restrictions to protect the North Atlantic right whale, which meant we were unable to travel far enough to search for humpbacks. Although we did briefly see a few juvenile humpbacks on some of our trips, we were not able to identify them, and they moved out of the area quickly.

However, the importance of this right whale speed restriction was really shown this spring as there were record numbers of right whales feeding off of southern Stellwagen Bank, and we saw right whales (see image) on several of our cruises farther north as well. The high levels of copepods in the water that the right whales were feeding on also meant that there was a larger number of sei whales on Stellwagen Bank this spring, which we were lucky enough to see on one of our trips as well. Sei whales use Stellwagen Bank more rarely and much less predictably than other whale species, so while it wasn’t a surprise to see them, it was certainly an unexpected treat.

As we move in to May, some of the speed restrictions have been lifted and we were able to travel south nearer to Cape Cod to check out some of the humpback whales there. Already we have seen a variety of exciting behaviors, including breaching and surface feeding. Its always good to see the humpbacks surface feeding, as it lets us know they are finding a large amount of their favorite prey, sand lance. Also a good sign is that we have seen several mother whales already with their new calves. In just the past two days we have seen Ventisca, Photon, and Vulture (pictured here) with their calves on southern Stellwagen Bank. We are also beginning to welcome back some of our summer regulars, including Geometry and Patchwork, who are both 14 year old males, as well as Falcon, among others who have yet to be officially identified. We look forward to seeing all these whales and hopefully many more in the coming weeks!