Northward Bound: Whale Watch

Today as part of the Summer Science Institute participated in a whale watching trip aboard the navigator.

The purpose of this trip was to identify individual whales from the unique patterns in their flukes or tails. This the fluke of a calf. The markings of a calf are non-distinct, but as they age their patterns will become permanent. Also any scaring on the fluke can be used to help ID individual whales.

Here is the calf (baby) whale breaching. This whale is about 6 months old and was likely born in Hawaii in January off the coast of Maui.

Here the calf is on its side waving to use with its white tipped flipper, and part of the fluke is also visible.

That calf sure was a show off. We saw this young humpback whale breach several times.

Bald Eagle and Stellar's Sea lions on a Buoy near the Herbert Glacier.

A close up.

We also we able to visit a Sea lion Haul out on the shore. There may have been more than 80 Stellar's sea lions. Note the large gray bull (male) in the middle.

This guy got tangled up in some monofilament fishing line that is cutting into his neck.

Some of the Sealions had numbers branded into them. Note the large male in the upper right side of the photo. These numbers are used the track individuals over their life span to see where they travel and reproduce or feed.

Black Oyster Catchers, with a chick.

Bald Eagle. These guys were every where. But we do not get them up in Anaktuvuk Pass, it is too far north and there are no big river or lakes for them to fish.

Pigeon Guillemot. One is looking down into the water to see if there is anything good to eat. My what bright red legs they have! (Below.)

My First view of Orca Whales. These were a group of 5 transient whales, Killer whales are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. Killer whales are made up of two groups that do not interbreed and may become separate species, transient and resident. Resident killer whales eat mostly fish where as transients eat more marine mammals.