Sunshine in the Bay!

9.7.2017 WHALE WATCHING

9:00

Today seems like an actual proper summer day and there is not better way to start it than going out for a Whale Watching tour. We sailed out on our ship Andrea, and we did not have to wait for long until we spotted the first species of cetaceans. We saw a minke whale surfacing a couple of times before it went for a deeper dive. It seemed to stay down for a while, so we decided to check out a flock of sea birds feeding in front of us. There are often whales feeding on the same fish as the birds, and indeed, there was another minke whale with them. Behind this flock, we also spotted a bigger blow. We sailed towards it, and there was a big humpback whale, coming up to the water surface to breathe between deeper dives. First we saw it from a distance, but then it suddenly came up only 5 metres from Andrea. We saw the whole body underneath the water surface, including the long white flippers. When the whale went for the next deep dive, we could see its fluke very well and we were able to identify the animal according a piece that was missing in the fluke. To our excitement, there was another humpback whale in the same area, and we saw this one surface a couple of times as well. Then, both of the animals dived and did not come up again for a while. So we sailed on, and we got lucky again! There was a pod of white-beaked dolphins, including one juvenile. They were just passing by, but on their way they came very close and even jumped right next to the ship. So yes, we definitly started this day in the best way possible.

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: YES – Minke whale, Humpback whale, White beaked dolphins

10:00

Today is a wonderfully sunny day in Reykjavík. This must mean summer has arrived once again this year. Sailing out today we already knew we were in for a treat as our previous days have been incredible here at Special Tours. After 15 minutes of fast sailing out to our Whale Watching feeding area we already spotted the blow of a mighty humpback whale. This wonderful animal (around 9metres in length) swam next to us for maybe 30minutes, surfacing very very close to the boat, breathing loud enough for us to hear and raising its fluke (tail) when it went for a deep dive. Whilst watching this whale we saw white beaked dolphins in the distance and so approached a speedy pod. Then minke whales, many minke whales. A minke whale calf swam right up to the boat many times. In this trip we had birds carrying fish next to the boat, whales showing their tail, more whales swimming up to the boat and a wonderful pod of dolphins. Great tour!

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: YES – Humpback whale, Minke whales, White beaked dolphins

13:00

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: TBD

14:00

On our express boat lilja we really do get to go out that much further than the majority of the other boats. Today the bay was still packed with life. Diving Gannets left and right, puffins popping up around us and of course lots of whales. Our first Cetacean encounter on this trip was the little harbour porpoise. These tiny animals are usually very shy but today they really seemed to be curious around the boat, coming within just 1 metre of Lilja. After our porpoise entertainment we continued on to find more animals and soon came across both a pod of feeding white beaked dolphins and many minke whales. A really beautiful whale watching trip from Reykjavik with Special Tours today.

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoise, White Beaked Dolphins

17:00

This was my third trip guiding today and although we are going to the same area every time, each trip is very different. On this later trip everything was really entering feeding mode! We had jumping white beaked dolphins, lunge feeding minke whales, feeding humpback whales and at one time a humpback whale actually jumped right out of the water in front of Andrea. A truly memorable whale watching trip for everyone on board!

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: Humpback Whale, Minke Whale, White Beaked Dolphins

21:00

As we sailed out to Faxafloi, we had some very lovely passengers as they were all out helping in the spotting of the whales during the exciting weather we had. Once we reached the feeding grounds we spotted the pod of 5 white beaked dolphins. We sailed close to them, and as they recognised the boat they came to greet us. They stayed with us for a little while, swimming and following the boat. After a good 15 minutes with them, we waved them goodbye and went to search for something else…and we did not have to wait long until we spotted the big blow of a humpback whale! We sailed right away towards it and found out it was one that we have been seeing in the past few weeks quite regularly. We of the crew called it after one of our guides, Goggi 🙂 it can be easily recognised by looking at its fluke as on the right internal side it is missing a small piece, probably from a fight with a orca whale. Goggi seemed not to be disturbed by us so we stayed with it for a long while. We sailed/swam alongside as the sun came closer to setting and as the moon, behind Reykjavik started rising. It was beautiful to see at the same height but at opposite sides the sun and the gigantic moon! It made the sail with the humpback a very smiley and happy ride.

Tour Status: ON

Sightings: YES – White beaked dolphins, Humpback whale