Good Afternoon Humpback Harbingers, 

Today aboard the Aurora we joined the seasoned Captain Chip to search for humpback whales on the Southwest Corner.  We eventually came across two humpback whales who were logging just 10 miles north of Provincetown.  After watching these whales embark on two dives exceeding five minutes in length, we made our way north where we discovered another humpback named Centipede, a whale whose fluke pattern would surely captivate any entomologist!  Resting nearby just under the surface milled Apex with her calf born earlier this year!  The duo continued to log in close proximity to our passengers, further baffling first-time whale watchers with this tranquil behavior.

Meanwhile, Centipede joined with another distant humpback whale and suddenly began breaching with vigor!  Within ten seconds, Apex and her calf awoke from their slumber and embarked on a seemingly deep fluking dive.  Within a minute they exploded through the surface in an incredible synchronized double breach within 200’ of the Aurora!  No photographs exist to verify this sensational surprise, but the calf breached three more times while her mother remained out of sight in the deep blue.   The young whale was quick to revert to tail lobbing and pectoral flipper slapping to round off our expedition, a welcome juxtaposition to the quiet that befell Stellwagen Bank.

It was an honor to witness such mysterious cetacean action, and I am enthused to see what animals and behaviors are manifested in the summer days to come!

Peace and Love,

Rich

Cormorant at Central Wharf. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist

Apex 2015 Calf breaching. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist

Apex's calf swimming by port pulpit. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist