Wed Aug 14 – Whale Watching- Starship

Without a doubt, exceptional days are becoming standard on Viking/CRESLI whale watching trips this
season! Once again, we found a large group of humpbacks, approximately twelve miles from Montauk.
We first encountered a group of three humpbacks feeding on dense shoals of bait (likely sand eels)
midway through the water column. We know this because the whales pooped frequently and often
came up straining the engulfed water through their baleen at the surface. Things quickly got interesting
as a mom and calf pair appeared and at least seven more humpbacks were encountered, many of which
were in close proximity of the vessel, affording excellent views. One adult humpback approached the
vessel no more than ten feet off the starboard bow in an exhilarating encounter for the passengers. As
we continued a bit more south, a group of five humpbacks were seen open-mouth feeding at the
surface, while others popped up alongside the vessel dragging and snaking to strain water out through
their baleen and to retain and swallow their prey. Occasional breaches, kickfeeding, and pectoral flipper-
slapping kept everyone on alert because it really did not matter where you looked; humpbacks were
everywhere! Then, as if that was not enough, a small pod of short-beaked common dolphins arrived
delighting passengers with their porpoising alongside the vessel. Numerous passengers expressed how
this trip “exceeded their expectations” and the atmosphere onboard was exhilarating. There is one
month left to this remarkable season; book your trip with us today!

20-25 humpback whales
40-60 short-beaked common dolphins
4-6 great shearwaters
1 unidentified shark
Several small schools of Atlantic menhaden (bunker)