Fernandina
We thought the day might turn out as a cetacean-less one, as breakfast drew on without a sighting at Roca Redonda. Little did we know that the day held several whale and dolphin species in store, several of them turning out to be new ones for most of us!
The end of breakfast was first interrupted by a call for dolphins. We assumed, by their behavior, that they were common dolphins. However, upon closer inspection we observed the presence of a distinct dark stripe and pink under-parts. This enabled the unmistakable identification of striped dolphins (see photo). Although common throughout the tropics and in fact the most common cetacean in the world, it was the first observation in these parts for all of the naturalists.
The show continued with a Zodiac ride around three to four surfacing Bryde's whales. During the intervals, giant manta rays and oceanic sunfish were observed.
This was but an appetizer, however, for the grand finale of our cetacean day! We were aroused from siesta by the passing of a mixed pod of two fin whales and a blue whale. Many people were up on deck when one of the fin whales headed straight for the Polaris and passed right underneath it, enabling the best view possible and "the biggest thing I've ever seen in my life", quoted from several of our guests.
We were all able to see the surfacing and fluking of these giants several times from a reasonable distance after that. The identifying features and actions observed by all of us, including the sheer length from spout to dorsal fin and the shape of the latter (see insert), enabled accurate identification of the blue whale. Remember that the blue whale is the largest animal ever to have roamed the earth.
And we saw it!
We thought the day might turn out as a cetacean-less one, as breakfast drew on without a sighting at Roca Redonda. Little did we know that the day held several whale and dolphin species in store, several of them turning out to be new ones for most of us!
The end of breakfast was first interrupted by a call for dolphins. We assumed, by their behavior, that they were common dolphins. However, upon closer inspection we observed the presence of a distinct dark stripe and pink under-parts. This enabled the unmistakable identification of striped dolphins (see photo). Although common throughout the tropics and in fact the most common cetacean in the world, it was the first observation in these parts for all of the naturalists.
The show continued with a Zodiac ride around three to four surfacing Bryde's whales. During the intervals, giant manta rays and oceanic sunfish were observed.
This was but an appetizer, however, for the grand finale of our cetacean day! We were aroused from siesta by the passing of a mixed pod of two fin whales and a blue whale. Many people were up on deck when one of the fin whales headed straight for the Polaris and passed right underneath it, enabling the best view possible and "the biggest thing I've ever seen in my life", quoted from several of our guests.
We were all able to see the surfacing and fluking of these giants several times from a reasonable distance after that. The identifying features and actions observed by all of us, including the sheer length from spout to dorsal fin and the shape of the latter (see insert), enabled accurate identification of the blue whale. Remember that the blue whale is the largest animal ever to have roamed the earth.
And we saw it!
