Saturday on the Atlantic Queen - Familiar Juvenile, and a Surprise Gift!

Siphon's 2009 Calf

Being a "glass half full" type of person, I'm going to say it was an excellent day on the water.  Cool breezes, plenty to look at (although not all of it was whales). And as interns Michelle and Heather and I were saying, "any day you see a whale is a good day."  I'd also say that any day spent on a boat is a good day.

Anyway, there was lots of life on the Ledge today - tuna splashing everywhere, and many seabirds, including northern gannets, several shearwater species (greater, sooty and manx), terns and Wilson's storm-petrels. Many times we got to see the exciting sight of a gannet plummeting from a great height as it dove for its food.

The whales were a little harder to find - we checked out a couple reports and came up empty, but did get to spend lots of time with a 1-year old humpback, the 2009 calf of Siphon. We've seen this youngster several times this season. Its mom, Siphon, was first seen in 1992.

Siphon's '09 calf... Yep, I've taken better ID shots!  This whale has a unique white mark on the tip of its right fluke, with a black "dip" to the left of it, so we could identify it anyway.

At any rate, I think the great sightings of the humpback were well worth the trip, especially since we got to escape the heat on land for a few hours. 

As an added bonus, Blue Ocean Society received an unexpected gift at the end of the trip.  Frequent whale watchers Joyce and Marty Briner donated a handmade statue of a humpback whale and her calf!  I've talked with the Briners on previous trips about their hand-painted and hand-carved animals, which will be displayed at the Squam Lakes Science Center, and was thrilled not only to see, but to receive, one of their pieces of work.  I posted a photo here, although it doesn't really do it justice. During the winter months it will serve as a great reminder of our happy times spent whale watching on the Atlantic Queen. We'll look forward to seeing you, Joyce and Marty, in August before you head down south. Thank you again!

And thanks to all who visited us today - hope to see you again soon!


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