Sat Aug 22 – Whale Watching

Despite a light drizzle at the dock, we sailed away from Montauk under cloudy, but dry conditions, and
found our first whale approximately three miles from shore. This was a minke whale, the smallest of
baleen whales, which surfaced regularly around the vessel in short (30 seconds to 1.5 minutes) intervals
while feeding on the rich abundance of bait (likely silversides) at the surface. Minkes are generally fast
and elusive, so it was a treat to observe this cetacean within a small area with repeated, multiple views.
We moved on and a few miles later encountered numerous pods of Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin.
After spending some time with the pods, we traveled several miles southeast in search of some of the
humpbacks encountered on previous trips. Blows and tails were spotted in the distance and we found
ourselves surrounded by 5-6 humpback whales and at least 2 minkes, all of which, were on the move
and diving for long intervals with limited surface activity. Bait was rich at depth, but it did not resemble
sand eels, a favorite of the humpbacks, and may not have been a target species causing the whales to
move on. We were able to keep pace with a few individuals, enough to document their tail flukes for
eventual identification. Two of these whales are the mom/calf pair of Zeppelin and her 2025 calf Sette
(named through a collaborative process organized by the Center for Coastal Studies, which curates the
Gulf of Maine humpback whale catalog), with whom we spent time on three of our previous trips.
Another individual was identified as a new addition to CRESLI’s MTK Humpback whale catalog, an
unnamed individual last seen off Block Island in 2024. Surely, the highlight of the trip was when Zeppelin
(with Sette nearby) surfaced next to our vessel, so close that her blow could be felt by passengers
onboard and the sounds of her breath exchanges were exhilerating. This was the second time she
approached our vessel on this trip, a behavior documented on previous trips, likely a consequence of
our respectful actions while on the water with these animals. CRESLI and Viking Fleet are proud partners
of WhaleSENSE, a voluntary program that promotes responsible and ethical whale watching. We never
chase or separate the whales and remain out of gear when they are nearby. We have had an amazing
season and only a few weeks remain. Come join us on our next adventure!

3 minke whales
5-6 humpback whales
50-80 Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins
150-250 Wilson’s storm petrels
40-60 great shearwaters
30-50 Cory’s shearwaters
Uncounted sooty shearwaters
3 red-necked phalaropes