Whale Watches Have Begun!

Humpback whale flipper; image (c) Melanie White

By Dianna Schulte

Our 2018 whale watching season is off to a fantastic start! Beginning on May 12, Granite State Whale Watch ventured out on their first trip. Fin and minke whales were sighted including our old friend fin whale #0282 (a regular seen most often in the spring). The next day, humpback whale #0050 (or Fifty, as we call him) was spotted. Fifty was first documented back in the mid-1970’s!

Bungee and her calf were also seen which was interesting since Bungee had a calf last summer and this is a new calf. Usually, humpback moms will have a calf every 2-3 years, as opposed to every year. It takes a lot of energy for a humpback mom to be pregnant while nursing. Bungee has done this before, though. She is a productive member of the Gulf of Maine population!

Our first trip aboard Capt Bill and Sons Whale Watch found five humpbacks and a mother/calf pair of fin whales! Since then, they have seen several more humpback whales including Dross and her newest calf! Diablo and FalconĀ have also been seen along with some Atlantic white sided dolphins.

We look forward to what the 2018 season brings! Join us on a trip soon!