How to Watch and What to Look For
Watch out for any disturbance of the water’s surface. When it is calm this is easy, when it is rough it can be very difficult. If you see something which seems unusual or out of place; a splash or series of splashes, perhaps a dark shape or even a dorsal fin; the important thing is to maintain concentration on the area where you saw the movement. Depending on what they are doing, cetaceans can be highly unpredictable in their surfacing patterns. Please be aware that on Deck 11 you are some 100 feet above the sea so dolphins as they come towards the ship to have fun and “bowride” can appear small.
Common Dolphins
are porpoising rapidly towards the ship. You can see the tell-tale dark
shapes and splashes. Minutes later they look like this (below).
This is something we often see from the Pride.
A whale blow is something
you will probably know when you see it, although they can be confused
with splashes from other animals or fish. They can be many different shapes
and sizes, depending on the species making it, their behaviour (have they
just come up from a deep dive or are they just ‘logging’ on
the surface?), the wind speed and direction. This is a Fin Whale, the
commonest rorqual whale in Biscay. Again, if you see a blow, shout, and
don’t take your eye off the area. If the whale has dived then it
may be several minutes before it surfaces (up to 2 hours in the case of
a Sperm Whale!) or it may blow again fairly quickly. The important thing
is to keep looking.
This is a Minke Whale. As a whale surfaces they ‘roll’. Depending
on the size of the animal, this may last a second, or with a Blue Whale,
about five! You will usually see a smooth curve of the back, often followed
by a dorsal fin, depending on the species. All the regular species of
whale in Biscay have dorsal fins so this is a good indicator. With experience,
it is possible to judge size fairly accurately from the Pride. However,
many people are fooled into thinking that a 70 foot Fin Whale from 100
feet up, is a dolphin!
There can also be other signs to look for:
This is a fluke print from a Humpback Whale. When a whale dives, whether
shallow or deep, the pressure the tail exerts against the water creates
an area of calm water on the surface. These can be good indicators of
where a whale has just been.
When watching
for cetaceans it is hugely important to keep an eye on the birds. For
those of you who saw the Blue Planet and remember the ‘bait balls’
of fish being terrorised by dolphins, remember also that invariably above
those ‘bait balls’ were feeding birds. Large flocks of feeding
birds are very often in association with dolphins, which may not be so
obvious, even though there could be a hundred or more animals beneath
the surface. Dolphins will also usually herd fish towards the surface
to give them less options of escape, making it easy for seabirds to dive
and catch the fish. Circling birds, like these, are another excellent
indicator.
This type of splash signifies something different. This is actually made
by a breaching Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, a speciality of the Bay of
Biscay, which has thrown itself clear of the water. Of course to the inexperienced
eye, it could be the splash made by a jumping Marlin or dolphin. The point
is, if you see something like this then, again, keep watching. When whales
breach (project themselves out of the water) they will usually do it again
and you will see one of the most spectacular sights in the animal kingdom.
A breaching 60 ton Fin Whale creates an enormous splash!
Remember these three rules:
- If you see something, a splash, a shape etc – look again. Scan with binoculars or the naked eye until you are satisfied you have missed nothing.
- Be persistent – everyone in BDRP has tales of seeing nothing for 6 hours and then fantastic sightings can occur in rapid succession! It is very difficult to predict when and where it will happen. If you put in the hard work you have a better chance.
- Watch the birds. A large feeding flock of birds usually signifies action in Biscay!
Good Luck!
The Wildlife Officer
Registered Charity No. 1110884
Copyright of BDRP 2006