Sat June 27 – Whale Watching

Another astonishing trip with 5 species of cetaceans, a leatherback sea turtle, ocean sunfish, and a plethors of pelagic birds.

We started our trip in slight haze that burnt\ed off as we progressed. We has reports of whales to our south and off we went. We found our 1st pelagic birds as well as finback whale and Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins(Tursiops erebennus) within a few miles of Montauk Light. As we  headed further S, we continued to find pelagic birds, and whales. Finbacks (Balaenoptera physalus) in every direction including what appeared to be mom/calf pairs, squid (Illex spp.) were everywhere and the finbacks were feasting. Most shearwaters (Great, Sooty, Cory’s) were so full that they could barely take off. We were often surrounded by whales in every direction, minkes (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and finbacks mostly, but we did find 2 pairs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that we were able to observe and attempt to ID. Again, we are of the mind that we had mom/calf pairs.  Eventually along came an aggregation of 200 short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) that decide to ride along our bow wake and vocalize, surprising the passengers on the lower deck. We also observed a massive upwelling of sand eels (sand lance) (Ammodytes spp.) Just as we were ready to turn northward, a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and an ocean sunfish (Mola mola) were sighted.

The 900+ photos are still being reviewed and the best ones will be posted soon. Patience is needed.

All appropriate Whale SENSE, MMPSA and ESA guidelines were followed. No harassment took place. Photos were take with high resolution digital camera (NikonZ8 and Nikkor Z180-600mm lens)

Totals

35 Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins

200 Short-beaked common dolphins

12-15 finback whales

12-15 minke whales

4 humpback whales

1 leatherback sea turtle

1 ocean sunfish

Squid and sand eels everywhere

42 Wilson’s storm petrels

65 Sooty shearwaters

78 Cory’s shearwaters

142 Great shearwaters