San Jose Channel & Isla San Francisco
Any experience with a whale can turn into a humbling one very quickly. The appearance of a whale can result in bursts of excitement and exclamation while simultaneously causing moments of deep reflection. It was very fitting that after a day (yesterday) with 4 species of cetaceans (spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, gray whales and humpback whales) we would follow that by experiencing the largest animal to have ever lived, the blue whale, the second largest whale alive, the fin whale, and another very discreet cetacean, one that has added some mystery to our journey.
All of our hard work and luck would never have paid off if it were not for the amazing sea conditions today. There were times when the islands reflected off the sea like it was a fluid mirror. We were able to see any disturbance beneath the surface, from fin tips of the Mobula rays, to the fury of small tuna crashing the surface, even the sinuous track of a thresher shark could be seen on the stillest of seas. Of course, to find an 80-foot whale you don't need calm seas. But to spot a Kogia sp. you do. Be it the Pygmy or the Dwarf sperm whale, they are both very secretive and give little sign of their presence. After following this small cetacean for half an hour, we were still left unsure. With just a dorsal fin, some sign of a large head and logging behavior we had acquired a mystery whale. We may never know which Kogia we saw today, but that almost makes it more enjoyable.
The highlight of the day, by unanimous opinion was the blue whale. The animal was diving anywhere from 9-14 minutes, and we had brief looks from up to 100 yards away. The blue whale is one of the only whales that is every bit as impressive from that distance. We were content with our views when the whale suddenly ended a 10-minute dive directly in front of the idling National Geographic Sea Bird. To say that everyone on the bow was excited would be like saying the blue whale is big. It's gigantic, actually. After a few breaths we were treated to the largest fluke in the world, everyone cheered in anticipation as the tailstock began to arch. A rare sight indeed which was made even more exciting because of its proximity.
Any experience with a whale can turn into a humbling one very quickly. The appearance of a whale can result in bursts of excitement and exclamation while simultaneously causing moments of deep reflection. It was very fitting that after a day (yesterday) with 4 species of cetaceans (spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, gray whales and humpback whales) we would follow that by experiencing the largest animal to have ever lived, the blue whale, the second largest whale alive, the fin whale, and another very discreet cetacean, one that has added some mystery to our journey.
All of our hard work and luck would never have paid off if it were not for the amazing sea conditions today. There were times when the islands reflected off the sea like it was a fluid mirror. We were able to see any disturbance beneath the surface, from fin tips of the Mobula rays, to the fury of small tuna crashing the surface, even the sinuous track of a thresher shark could be seen on the stillest of seas. Of course, to find an 80-foot whale you don't need calm seas. But to spot a Kogia sp. you do. Be it the Pygmy or the Dwarf sperm whale, they are both very secretive and give little sign of their presence. After following this small cetacean for half an hour, we were still left unsure. With just a dorsal fin, some sign of a large head and logging behavior we had acquired a mystery whale. We may never know which Kogia we saw today, but that almost makes it more enjoyable.
The highlight of the day, by unanimous opinion was the blue whale. The animal was diving anywhere from 9-14 minutes, and we had brief looks from up to 100 yards away. The blue whale is one of the only whales that is every bit as impressive from that distance. We were content with our views when the whale suddenly ended a 10-minute dive directly in front of the idling National Geographic Sea Bird. To say that everyone on the bow was excited would be like saying the blue whale is big. It's gigantic, actually. After a few breaths we were treated to the largest fluke in the world, everyone cheered in anticipation as the tailstock began to arch. A rare sight indeed which was made even more exciting because of its proximity.
