The 2014 Whale Watching Season Has Begun!

Summer is here and Bar Harbor is once again a bustling town full of visitors ready to enjoy the beauty of Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, and the Gulf of Maine! As of Memorial Day weekend the whale watch has been venturing offshore in search of puffins, whales, and other wildlife!

The start of this season has been an interesting one! We have found ourselves venturing into different areas of the Gulf of Maine to locate whales, but it has certainly been worth the time and ride to get there! Over the last couple of weeks, we've traveled to the Bay of Fundy which is home to some of the largest tides in the world (30-50 feet in difference) and highly productive waters. Whale species sighted thus far include humpback, fin, minke, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, and harbor porpoise! Other sightings include seals, ocean sunfish, and a variety of offshore seabirds from such as Northern gannets, fulmars, shearwaters, and jaegers!

A Pair of Fin Whales!

This is the time whales return to northern, colder waters to feed. Where we find whales and how many are seen depends on food!  The Gulf of Maine is a unique shallow "sea within a sea" where the combination of physical, chemical, and biological influences result in a bust of productivity, attracting whales, seabirds, and other marine life.  As waters warm as a result of more sunlight, microscopic algae become more abundant, along with zooplankton, and then schooling fish such as herring.

                                                A bathymetry map of the Gulf of Maine

Puffin sightings have been excellent! Petit Manan Island is teaming with seabirds including the North Atlantic puffin, razorbills, and terns. All of these species nest on the island and we eagerly await news of the first puffin chicks! Researchers on the island continue to keep us informed as to the status of the breeding population and overall health of the colonies. Talking with the researchers and seeing Maine's second tallest lighthouse are other highlights when visiting the island!

North Atlantic Puffin Sitting in the water off Petit Manan Island!

We hope you enjoy reading the posts that follow! This year we plan to update our blog weekly summarizing our sightings for each trip with information, photos, and video!

A Humpback named Hangglide!