Today we ventured out to where we had reports of many feeding fin whales were just the night before. We love our fishing friends who give us reports of whales in areas we don't normally go to. Our search proved productive as soon we found an area with 3 huge fin whales and a couple of minkes!
To make this day even better, the first whales we saw were in a pair, and were both whales that I know VERY well!!! Ladder (fin whale #9641) and the currently unnamed fin whale #9618!! Both of these whales are male and were first sighted by Blue Ocean Society researchers on Jeffreys Ledge in 1996. Ladder was first documented in 1981 (30 years ago!!!), while #9618 was first seen in 1984. However, we still don't know how old these whales are since they were adults back in the '80's when first seen.
Ladder is one of my most-favorite fin whales. I have seen him every year (except one) since I started whale watching 17 years ago!
Check out his really cool chevron markings below!
Ladder's chevron pattern
Ladder- named for the ladder-like scar (caused by a boat propeller) on his backLadder is also well known for his affinity for hanging out with other fin whales even though most fin whales are usually solitary. The majority of the time we see him, he is with another fin whale or at least in the same area of other whales.
Today he was with #9618, who is seen frequently but not annually. This pair of whales was feeding and surfacing very closely to our boat, and even circled out boat once!! Amazing looks at the second-largest animal on the planet!
Fin whale #9618's chevron pattern
9618's distinctive dorsal fin!Not far away we found a third fin whale. This one has yet to be identified and may possibly be a new whale to our catalog!
Also in this same area was a minke whale- a "small" baleen whale at 20-30 feet in length!
Minke whaleWe searched for more whales but only came up with 2 very elusive minke whales on the southern part of the Ledge. Overall it was a beautiful day with some very lovely whales!!
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1 comment:
"17 years ago," wow, you started whale watching when you were nine years old!
Could you do something about all the dogfish? They are noisy and annoying.
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