Fri Aug 23- Whale Watching- Star

Another spectacular whale watch trip on the Viking Star!
While we Expecting to go offshore to find the whales that were been seen on Wednesday, Dr. Kopelman
and several volunteers saw humpback whales close to shore whales from the Overlook Beach on Old
Montauk Highway on their way out to see to the ship. These we’re most likely juvenile humpback whales.
We decided to look for them first before heading offshore for the others. We found them, and spent time
with to humpback whales and were able to identify them. It was time to head offshore, and we found
them offshore as well.
We found 10 to 12 humpback whales in and among a lot of vessels trying to catch tuna on rod and reel.
The tuna and the whales were feeding on sand eels, not an uncommon sight. We found one calf that
seemed lethargic and behaving strangely. It would roll onto its side but never lifted slippers, and roll back,
then dive, then come up and log (rest). It was the 2024 calf of Angus. The other humpback whales we
often swimming and groups, some of five and others of seven. Not only did it appear that they were
swimming around the calf, but they would swim towards various fishing vessels and exhibit agitated
behavior. Several whales were creating trumpet blows (a sound that is indicative of distress), a few made
rumble blows [sound that indicative of even more stress). They swam in echelon formation and seemed
to head towards the vessel around the calf. We have been in discussion back experts and will be sharing
video and photos with them.
Whales are still here – you file let’s do this should be here also!!
• 10-12 humpbacks
• Including
o Angus
o Angus ’24 calf
o Ankh
o Apex
o A-Plus
o Bombay
o Greenbean
o Jupiter
o MTK.2024.08.23-01 (VARF-283)
o MTK.2023.08.23-02 (NYC0240 AND HDRVA Mn206)
o Scratchboard
o Tau
• 1 minke whale
• ~20 short-beaked common dolphins
• 2 Great shearwaters
• 2 Sooty shearwaters
• 1 Cory’s shearwater
Photos and videos to be posted soon.