Pinnipeds and Whale Watching "Humanicus whalewachterous"

Gray Seal

While out on the whale watch trip, we not only came across humpback whales and seabirds, but also two species of pinnipeds.  Pinnipeds are seals and in our area, the most common species are the gray seal -Halichoerus grypus and the harbor seal - Phoca vitulina.  Gray seals are sometimes called "horseheads" because of their large snouts.  Harbor seals snout are more doglike.  Both species of seals enjoyed "human observation" as they gazed at us on the boat as we were watching them.

Gray Seal

Harbor Seal

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean were basically still and clear so you could observe the harbor seal swimming under the water.

Harbor Seal Swimming under the Water

We also observed a new species of animals, whose population increases every year.  The species is "Humanicus whalewachterous".  This species arrives anywhere there is whales in a great variety of ocean crafts.  You all know if you are a member of this species.

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

"Humanicus whalewachterous"

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Seabirds

Common Terns Sitting on a Lobster Buoy

The all day trip that I was on Sunday.  Remember was entitled "Seabirds and Whales Tales".  So I would like to show some of the photos of seabirds that we saw.  A variety of seabirds were identified and could be seen with binoculars, but because of distances, and a lot of times flying away from the boat, it was hard to get photographs.  All four shearwaters were identified; Great, Cory's, Manx, and Sooty.  They were great black-backed gull's, herring gulls, laughing gulls and a second year black-luggage kittiwake.  The gulls ranged in age from first-year to adults in their plumage.  Common terns were flying around, along with parasitic jaeger in a northern fulmar.  Wilson's storm petrels were flitting all around.  If the whales were feeding, we would've seen a lot more seabirds because the seabirds like to pick up the sand lances that are left over.  Normally, chumming brings in a lot of birds, but the only ones that seem to be interested with a great black-back gulls.  All the northern Gannet's that we observed range from 1st to 3rd year plumage birds.

Shearwater Flying over the Wake from the Boat

Corey Shearwater With Reflection

Great Black-Backed Gull Sitting on a Buoy in the Shipping Lane

Great Black-backed Gull Landing for Chum

Northern Gannet in Flight

Second Year Plumage Black-Legged Kittiwake in Flight

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Whale of a Day

Sunday was a gorgeous day, I spent did with around 100 other people on a whale watching boat (Plymouth Whale Watching), which leaves from the state pier with the Mayflower II is anchored.  The event is the twice a year, "Sea Bird & Whale Tales Excursion" sponsored By the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance.  As opposed to the normal four hour whale watch trip, this is scheduled as a nine hour trip.  There are guest naturalists, NEWAC interns, plus the people on board are interested in nature, bird watching and whales.  Also, the amount of participants is limited.  Therefore, instead of being packed on board like a standard will watch, there is plenty of opportunity to be able to observe and photograph without being crowded.

Today's blog is just going to describe a small portion of the trip.  Since there was enough for a few blogs.  It was a beautiful day with everything from a high overcast bright sunny skies, the seas were basically calm, except in the afternoon down off the side of Cape Cod, where there was more of a slight's swell.  The winds did keep things cool, but not uncomfortable.

After leaving the dock in Plymouth, we slowly made our way around Plymouth Long Beach identifying the birds that were observed.  We then traveled up Cape Cod Bay out into the Atlantic to the Southwest corner of Stellwagon Bank.  As we were coming into Stellwagon Bank in the distance.  We saw a whale watching boat along with two humpbacks that kept breaching.  Slowly moving into the area, we came up to one humpback flipper slapping which it kept up for a while.  Then this whale decided to take a dive, showing us it's tail and then after being down a few minutes, the humpback came up and breached right in front of us.  Lucky I was ready and watching and was able to capture the activity of the breach.  The humpback started flipper slapping again and then for the second time dove and everybody was hoping for another breach.  However, the humpback decided to fool us, swam under the boat and came up on the other side and started flipper slapping.

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae flipper slapping

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae flipper slapping

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae dive

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae breach

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae flipper slapping and you can see the humpbacks eye

Throughout the day we had other encounters with whales in activity and identified all four of the shearwaters, Northern fulmar, parasitic Jaeger and juveniles northern gannets.

Stay tuned for more of this adventure on future blogs.  The second Sunday in September will be the Fall Seabird & Whales Tales Excursion .  More information can be had at http://www.necwa.org/