June 4, 2011

Another exciting day of whale watching with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company! Naturalist Christine was on the boat today and said that the whale sightings continued to be great. It was also a beautiful sunny day, which always makes for a nice day out on the water.

It was reported that there were numerous puffins, razorbills, and terns sighted at Petit Manan Island. This island is part of the Maine Coastal Island National Wildlife Refuge, which allows puffins and other seabirds to nest without being disturbed by human activity. The only people on the island currently are four researchers conducting a number of surveys and studies on the birds that nest there.

Razorbills sitting on the rocks and puffins in the water at Petit Manan Island

Razorbills on the rocks at Petit Manan

Once offshore, the boat sighted several finbacks and minkes! At one point a pair of juvenile finbacks surfaced near the boat and swam slowly by allowing for close looks!

Finback whale

There were also a few seals spotted as well, including the curious grey seal in the photograph below.

All in all another great day and we can't wait to get back out there again!

Photos: Walter Churchill