Sun Aug 29 – Whale Watching
Another three species day, but a long one
The day started out with an Atlantic gray seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica)feeding in the waters of Montauk Harbor right behind the Starship as we boarded passengers.
Conditions were excellent as we headed out to the east where humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) had been spotted earlier in the day. We didn’t find that whale, but did find a group of inshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), a good start. As we headed south west we came across a few minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and a much larger group of inshore bottlenose dolphins. Late in the trip, our way back in we found a humpback whale! This was a whale we’d fist seen back in early July. It was wonderful to see and made everyone happy, but we returned to the dock 40 minutes. So, it was a long trip but worthwhile.
- 1 humpback whale
- 3 minke whales
- 100 inshore bottlenose dolphins
- 1 gray seal
- 39 Wilson’s Storm Petrels
- 5 Cory’s Shearwaters
- 10 Great Shearwaters
- 1 Manx Shearwater
Photos from 8/29/21 available to view
