Whale Watching off the coast of Maine in the North Atlantic

Going whale watching is a real treat!

The whales are magnificent; the scenery is splendid;
and the experience is like no other.

We suggest a combination whale- and puffin-watching trip.

White-sided dolphins often accompany whale watchers in the North Atlantic. If you're whale watching in the Gulf of Maine, it's almost a certainty that you'll see at least one large pod of the 7' to 10' long WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS.

Often encountered in pods of 20 or 30 or more, these sleek hunters frequently ride the bow waves of the boat as it is running in search of whales.

ATLANTIC PUFFINS (Fratercula arctica) are the North Pole's inventive answer to the penguin (found only at the South Pole).

Living exclusively in the North Atlantic, they nest on only a few coastal islands and are found this far south only in mating season. The best times to see them are June, July and the beginning of August.

A puffin lays a single egg a year, and the species (now protected) was nearing extinction around the turn of the century.

Playful, parrot-like puffins (whose colorful beaks can take 5 years to grow) can fly beautifully, despite their stubby-looking, little, black-and-white bodies. Voracious eaters, they can dive 30+ deep for fish.

Finback Whales have a "Tall Blow" and asymmetrical coloration.

FINBACK WHALES (30' to 70') are the world's second-largest whales (up to 80' long and 80 tons). They're the only animals in the world that are asymmetrically colored (white on the right side of the jaw; black on the left). They have a tall "blow" (or "spout").

HUMPBACK WHALES (30' to 60') usually have long, white pectoral (arm-location) fins and are individually identifiable by their tails (flukes) because each one is has different markings (especially on the underside). They often have "bumps" on their snouts and along the leading edges of their flippers.

Although they may weigh up to 40 tons, these "Clowns of the Sea" love fun and often engage in "whale play":

Tail slapping: Slapping his tail on top of the water
Lobe tailing: Thrusting his lower-body out of the water
Spy Hopping: A head's-up, peaking around to see what's going on
Breaching: Jumping completely out of the water

MINKE (MING key) WHALES (15' to 30') are quite plentiful, but are often overlooked because of their size. The smallest (up to 10 tons) baleen (non-toothed, with a unique food-filtering jaw) whales, they often lift their sharply-pointed snouts out of the water and face the boat.

RIGHT WHALES (20' to 50') are the world's most endangered (fewer than 350 remain) and were named " Right" because they were the best whale to hunt. They may weigh up to 50 tons. Easily identified by its lack of a dorsal (backbone-area) fin and callosities (cal LOSS e tees) - whitish bumps on its head. Their low, bushy, double "blow" is often "V"-shaped.

HAVE RESERVATIONS & GET THERE EARLY!

BE SURE TO BRING WARM CLOTHES! It gets freezing cold on the water (even in "shorts weather" on the mainland), especially out on the viewing decks. Bring a coat/heavy jacket, gloves, hat, muffler, and blanket/plastic trash bags (make great windbreakers for legs).

BINOCULARS WILL COME IN HANDY, AS WELL AS POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. By all means, take your camera, but be aware that the likelihood of your getting that dramatic close-up shot is not high. It's always possible that a Humpback will rise in a gulp feed right next to the boat and that you'll snap an in-focus photograph at that very moment, but the best bet is to relax and enjoy the wonders of nature, the pleasure of riding the waves in the cold North Atlantic, and the camaraderie of your fellow passengers; then, buy some souvenir post cards when you reach shore.

WHALE WATCHING: Although whale-watching cruise boats cannot get closer than 500 yards to the protected Right Whales, other whales may be approached, but not chased. Humpback Whales are so used to whale watchers that they sometimes swim to the side of the boat.

THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE WHALES OFF THE COAST OF MAINE IS DURING THE SUMMER.
(Maine is a summer destination for whales who spend the entire season feeding.) The only difficult time to spot whales is mid-day when they dive deep for their prey.
Baby whales are often sighted swimming alongside their mothers, who nurse them for six to seven months.

Whale Watching off the Coast of Maine

Going whale watching is a real treat!

The whales are magnificent; the scenery is splendid;
and the experience is like no other.

We suggest a combination whale- and puffin-watching trip.

The WHALES most often encountered on the trip are the FINBACK, the HUMPBACK and the MINKE (MING key).

Whale Watching off the Coast of Maine

Going whale watching is a real treat!

The whales are magnificent; the scenery is splendid; and the experience is like no other.

We suggest a combination whale- and puffin-watching trip.

The WHALES most often encountered on the trip are the FINBACK, the HUMPBACK and the MINKE (MING key).

The whales are magnificent; the scenery is splendid;
and the experience is like no other.