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Mon July 20 – Whale Watching

We are running out of superlatives! Another day with 5 species of cetaceans!

We want to apologize for the delay in getting this report out. We are still reviewing over 1100 photos (having deleted 700) and the predicted storms forced us to turn off or main computer. What can I say –  we had epic, stupendous, and for some, life-altering, tear-inducing interactions with finback whales, humpback whales, minke whales, short-beaked common dolphins and Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins. As we expected, we found Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins in the near shore region in water no deeper than 60′ depth.  The waters were calm and sea temperatures were in the upper 60’s to 70 F others were further offshore in deeper waters. An hour later we find our 1st of many finback whales. Then came the humpbacks, minkes, and short-beaked common dolphins. We had whales spread out in every direction. Although we couldn’t possibly reach all of them, we spent as much time as possible with whomever was near to us. Some humpbacks were easily identified, while many were not, and we have several cow/calf pairs.  These all feeding whenever possible, or filtering and moving the food down their throats.

As in the past few trips we had bubble ring feeding humpback. One trio blew right next to our starboard bow. The objective of bubble ring feeding (in this a cooperative effort between 3 humpbacks) is to use the bubble to concentrate the prey in a tight circle and then rise up from below with open mouths. Wonderful day!!

All photos taken with Nikon Z8 and Nikkor Z180-600MM lens. All WhaleSAFE, MMPA, and ESA protocols were followed.

60 Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins

500-600 Short-beaked common dolphins

25-29 Minke whales

10 finback whales (1 cow//calf pair)

15-20 humpback whales (3 cow/calf pairs)

hundreds of shearwaters (mix of Cory’s Great, and Sooty)

100+ Wilson’s storm petrels (mostly concentrated in one area amongst a large concentration of cetaceans of all 5 species)

Photos and videos available at https://drartiek-cresli.smugmug.com/CRESLI-2026-Whale-Watches/2026-07-20-Montauk-Whale-Watch

Whale tail above water surface in ocean Whale surfacing with open mouth, surrounded by ocean water. Whale surfacing in calm ocean water, showing part of its head and body. Two dolphins swimming in the ocean, partially submerged. Dolphin tail fluke emerging from the ocean water. Dolphin leaping out of the ocean, creating a splash. Humpback whale breaching vertically from the ocean surface. A whale partially submerged in calm ocean waters. Two whale flippers visible above ocean surface. Whale tail emerging from ocean water.

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