Good Evening Humpback Heralds,
Today we explored the Southwest Corner for a 10am expedition with Captain Deb aboard the Asteria. Prior to our arrival upon the bank we were surrounded by a pod of Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins! Among these odonticetes we sighted some juveniles and calves, traveling with the adults at about 10 knots in an exodus of perhaps 200 individuals! This is one of a handful of dolphin encounters I have had in my last two seasons on Stellwagen Bank and the excitement spread across decks like a contagion.
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| Dolphins in the distance. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist |
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| Juvenile with adult. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist |
We continued east and encountered a breaching humpback amongst a nearly incalculable quantity of such species! While encircled by the cetacean congregation we had an intimate encounter with Pitcher and Nile as they traveled in associated synchrony, while A-Plus accompanied an unknown T-1 seen frequently over the last several whale watches. Gladiator fluked far off our starboard, while an unidentified humpback cast many a bubblecloud that nearly trapped a traveling minke whale. Lutris ventured close enough to discharge a blow unto victims on our bow, and promptly dove to subsurface feed amongst the many hungry mysticetes.
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| Cetacean breathe from Pitcher. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist |
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| Pitcher diving with Nile. Rich Dolan, BHC naturalist |
Today was an exemplary experience for those who had never before visited “Whale Country” and I myself could not mask my awe and admiration.
Peace and Love,
Rich
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