Mon July 27 – Whale Watching

“World Class Whale Watching” with the Viking Fleet!

To put today’s whale watch into perspective, it helps to explain how we found three cetacean species
early on and decided to leave them in search of something more. A few miles after passing Montauk
Point lighthouse, we encountered a juvenile humpback feeding at depth with glimpses of a minke whale
and a couple of Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin. Although we stuck around for a bit hoping for better
views, we decided to continue south and search for some of the adult humpbacks encountered on
yesterday’s trip. It didn’t take long before we could see whales breaking the surface of the water and
spouts soon filled the horizon. Those blows belonged to over a dozen humpback cooperatively bubble
net feeding in groups of 2,3, and 7. With excellent views of the action, we sat safely out of gear as
bubbles (and sand eels) surrounded the vessel in all directions. The sounds and sights of nearby
humpbacks filled our senses and hearts; it was incredible. Minke whales and one finback whale
appeared amongst the action, followed by a large pod of at least 100 short-beaked common dolphins.
With many more feeding events in sight, we traveled a very short distance to find several other large
groups of bubble-feeding humpbacks, totaling at least three dozen altogether. Although, CRESLI
scientists are still working to identify the individual humpbacks, we have encountered many familiar
flukes who have been documented off Montauk before, highlighting the habitat usage and site fidelity
of this region. Passengers lamented how this has been the very best whale watch they have ever been
on and how this trip was “world class”. While we hope that the bait and cetaceans remain in the area,
we have no idea how long these epic encounters will last.

2 Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin
1 juvenile humpback whale (nearshore)
28-36 adult humpback whales (including at least 2 mom/calf pairs)
6-9 minke whales
1 finback whale
80-120 short-beaked common dolphins
Scores of Cory’s and great shearwater, and at least 1 sooty shearwater; dozens of Wilson’s storm petrels
(bird counts were limited while with the whales and are likely severely underestimated)