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Sun July 19 – Whale Watching

EPIC whale watching with CRESLI and the Viking Fleet!
This season continues to bring passengers to an absolute ‘whale wonderland’, with multiple cetacean
species, large numbers of whales, and incredible encounters. Yesterday was no exception as we sailed
through crisp, clear skies, a wonderful reprieve from the wildfire smoke that had previously plagued the
region. Continuous pods of Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin were spotted shortly after passing the
Montauk Point lighthouse as we made our way south and east to where we ultimately found dozens of
whales and hundreds of short-beaked common dolphin. At first, we encountered 8-10 humpback
whales, made up of at least two mom/calf pairs, moving and diving around the vessel. Multiple fin
whales were also seen spouting and surfacing within a quarter mile and then the dolphins came. Moving
towards us and swimming alongside the boat, these short-beaked common dolphin were made up of
adults, juveniles, and at least one mom/calf pair affording passengers incredible views. More whales
were seen in the distance, and once it was safe to investigate (we had many whales surrounding us), we
discovered at least 6-8 more humpbacks, including a third mom/calf pair. These whales were kick-
feeding followed by bubble net feeding, before surfacing with open mouths and straining the prey
(abundant sand eels) through their baleen. The action was all around us and the calves, dolphins, and
even a few minke whales were seen swimming through the bubble net and amongst the humpbacks.
Pelagic birds (multiple shearwater species and Wilson’s storm petrels), which were seen throughout the
trip, appeared here in large number as well. A gray seal even popped up in the harbor as we prepared to
dock the vessel. What a day!
Conditions can change in an instant, but we have had several extraordinary trips so far this season. Join
us for our next adventure!
120-180 Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin
16-20 humpback whales
12-18 finback whales
5-8 minke whales
160-220 short-beaked common dolphin
1 gray seal
Scores of Cory’s and great shearwaters and Wilson’s storm petrels, and a dozen sooty shearwater

Whale partially surfacing in ocean, mouth open with water splashing. Two whale fins protruding from ocean water with white foam. Whale's head surfacing in ocean with a seagull flying above. Whale tail emerging from ocean water with splashes. Whale surfacing with mouth open near a jumping dolphin in the ocean. Humpback whale's tail above water, another whale partially submerged, in the ocean. Whale breaching water surface with open mouth in ocean. Whale spouting water creates rainbow over ocean surface. Whale surfacing with mouth open, dolphin nearby in ocean. Humpback whale feeding with dolphins swimming nearby in the ocean.

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