Heading out of the harbor on Dolphin Fleet’s Dolphin VII, the views of the tip of Cape Cod set the scene for a great trip to come. Not far from the start of the trip, the sights and sounds of whales began—out in the distance there where whales jumping and the sounds of humpbacks coming up to breathe through their blow holes. Soon these whales would be just yards from our boat as they swam together in search of the planktonic food that is so abundant here in the Gulf of Maine this time of year.
As a guest of Dr. Carole Carson, the director of the fleet’s research and education programs, I had this opportunity to see humpback whales up close and personal. I was lucky enough to go on this adventure at a time when there were at least 30 humpbacks feeding off the beaches of this area of the Cape. These whales were not alone in taking advantage of the plankton blooms—all around them there were dolphins, seals, and other species of whale (including Finbacks and even an endangered Right Whale in the distance), not to mention hundreds of gulls.
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Each whale’s tail has different markings, much like our fingers have unique finger prints. The scientists who study these whales are able to identify the whales by the unique markings on their tails.
You can see how close the whales get to each other. Oftentimes they work together to get their food.
These whales feed on plankton. Humpbacks don’t have teeth but instead have baleen. They feed by filling their mouths full of both seawater and plankton. They are then able to push the seawater out of their mouths through the sieve-like baleen.
Often the whales swim with their mouths open close to the surface “dragging for food.” Their mouths open very wide and can hold a lot of seawater.
The gulls are in search of any scraps that the whales leave behind. From time to time you could even see a gull catching a ride on a whale!
And finally, some video so you can see what it is like to be out there!










































































