Weekly Report ~ June 26, 2023 – July 2, 2023

During a recent whale watching trip with Dana Wharf Whale Watch, passengers were able to witness the largest and second largest animals in the world, Blue Whales and Fin Whales, in their natural habitat. The Fin Whales were seen feeding and traveling northbound, with some even breaching and “greyhounding” across the water. These enormous creatures can be up to 80 feet long and weigh up to 170 thousand pounds, making it a rare and exciting sight for passengers. The smaller Fin Whales, possibly calves, were also observed swimming playfully alongside and even under the boats. One of the Fin Whales, named Betty, was recognized by her unique dorsal fin shape and had been sighted in the same area for over 14 years.

The Blue Whales, on the other hand, seemed to be logging or resting on the surface between blows. They were observed for multiple trips throughout the day, indicating that they were likely feeding. The passengers were able to see the enormous size of these creatures as they swam right at the boat and passed less than 20 feet off the bow. The highlight of the experience was seeing the waterfalls off a Blue Whale’s fluke, which can be up to 25 feet wide.

In addition to the whales, pods of offshore bottlenose dolphin and long-beaked common dolphin were spotted, along with massive feeding frenzies of hundreds, possibly thousands of long-beaked common dolphin and various sea birds. It was an unforgettable experience for all aboard the whale watching trip.