May 5, 2004
May is turning into an unbelievable month! Although the weather
has been less than stellar, the whale watching has been fabulous. At least
30-40 humpback whales, including Salt and Mostaza (Salt's 2000 calf- seen
feeding with Salt!!!), have moved into Cape Cod Bay during the past week, more
than likely to feed on the available herring that are so plentiful in the area
right now. It's been a sight to behold! |
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May 12, 2004
Some of the more interesting sightings
have included Salt who has formed a regular partnership with another adult
female named Mural. Salt is pretty notorious for doing this in years she does
not have a calf. It was this type of "pairing" that earned Pepper her name.
Interestingly enough, Salt seemed to let Mural take the lead in the bubble net
group as eight whales fed together cooperatively. Salt, however, was second in
command and always resurfaced immediately after Mural. |
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And Mostaza and
Wasabi (Salt's calves from 2000 and 2003) certainly took Mom's advice and are
feeding in the same general area as Salt.
July 24, 2004
Most of "our" whales are in the Great South Channel where Pepper,
Mars and calf, Salt, Fringe, Crystal and forty or so other humpbacks were
hanging out last week! |
August 4,
2004
Today was spectacular with six or seven
humpbacks on the south end of the Bank including Salt (she was traveling with
Ash, Orbit's 1996 grandcalf) and Seal. |
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August 21,
2004
Salt's 1998 grand-calf, Etch-a-sketch was
spotted traveling east of Cape Cod.
October 2004
During the first two weeks of October, a number of adult humpback
whales engorged themselves on Jeffrey's ledge ( a feeding area east of New
Hampshire) and the northern portion of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary. Sightings included: Anchor (Olympia's 1983 calf); Putter (Mars' 1983
calf); Buzzard (Reflection's 2000 calf); Shishkebob (Salt's 2001 grandcalf);
Eden (Filament's 2000 calf); Cosmos (Columbia's 1997 calf); Whisk (Ivory's 1987
calf); Regulus (Spoon's 1983 calf); Wasabi (Salt's 2003 calf); as well as Salt
and Patches (his first sighting this year!!). Still further to the north,
Cloud, Touchdown (Olympia's 96 grand calf) and Tusk (Equus' 1979 calf) spent
part of their fall off of Brier Island, Nova Scotia. Also showing up - better
late than never- was Orbit!
October 31st
Sue Rocca was out yesterday on the Captain John Boat's last whale
watch of the season. She said there were more than 20 humpbacks in the area,
including Salt! What a great way to end the whale watching season here in the
Gulf of Maine. Can't wait to get her photos to see who else was
there!
November 11,
2004
IWC Research Assistant Sue Rocca was on board
a Center for Coastal Studies survey boat yesterday. Sue reports that Salt and
Mars were spotted swimming together east of Chatham, Massachusetts. |
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