Sun Sept 13 – Whale Watching

This trip was a wet but successful one! Rain was falling as we left the dock
and continued throughout most of the trip, a reminder of how fortunate we were this season with most
of our trips avoiding heavy downfalls and experiencing sunny, summer weather. Nonetheless, we
searched for humpbacks seen on previous trips along the shore, finding our first near Montauk town.
This whale was first documented by CRESLI on 09/04 and was seen again on 09/05, a juvenile humpback
feeding in under 50 feet of water. With short dive intervals, passengers were treated to frequent
sightings of the young whale. We spent some time with this animal before moving on to find another.
Along the way, we saw at least one ray (species unknown) leaping from the water and a few
shearwaters and about a dozen Wilson’s storm petrels, pelagic birds typically found farther from shore.
Then, as we sailed passed what looked like whale poop in the water, we slowed down to search for the
individual responsible. Rain was falling heavy so visibility was limited to half a mile, but a lunge-feeding
humpback leaped through the surface not far from our vessel as if to let us know it was near. We spent
time with this second individual, a 6-year old juvenile known as “Milkweed 2020 calf” who was
documented on at least four other trips. This whale was at first feeding in only 20-25 feet of water and
did not seem to mind us at all; surfacing near our vessel as we sat in wait. We spent time with this
individual as well, but with driving rain continuing, it was time to head back to dock.

2 humpback whales
Leaping ray of unknown species
2-5 Cory’s shearwaters
15-25 Wilson’s storm petrels