Whale sightings have been wonderfully consistent with the Minke and Fin being seen every day in and around East Quoddy Light, yesterday on the 5pm departure we got to spend some time with a very small Minke...probably only about 10-12 feet in length! The gestation period for minke whales is 10 months and babies measure 2.4 to 2.8 metres (7'10" to 9'2") at birth. The newborns nurse for five months.
Common minke whales (northern hemisphere variety) are distinguished from other whales by a white band on each flipper. The body is usually black or dark-grey above and white underneath. Most of the length of the back, including dorsal fin and blow
holes, appears at once when the whale surfaces to breathe. The whale then breathes 3-5 times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for 2-20 minutes. Deep dives (terminal dives)are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back. The maximum swimming speed of minkes has been estimated at 20-30 km/h. Minke whales have between 240 and 360 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Minke whales typically live for 30-50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years.
holes, appears at once when the whale surfaces to breathe. The whale then breathes 3-5 times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for 2-20 minutes. Deep dives (terminal dives)are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back. The maximum swimming speed of minkes has been estimated at 20-30 km/h. Minke whales have between 240 and 360 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Minke whales typically live for 30-50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years.Bird sightings have definitely been amazing for the past week, Eagles, Razorbill Auks, Black legged kittiwakes, puffins an
d Bonaparte's Gulls just to name a few! Now the Bonaparte's Gull is one of my favorite to see out there in the Bay of Fundy and yesterday they were everywhere!
d Bonaparte's Gulls just to name a few! Now the Bonaparte's Gull is one of my favorite to see out there in the Bay of Fundy and yesterday they were everywhere! Adults are 31-34 cm long with a 79-84 cm wingspan. They have a black hood and a short thin dark bill. The body is mainly white with pale grey back and upper wings. The underwing is pale and the wing tips are dark. They have orange legs. In winter, the head is white.
The amount of birds in one area is unbelievable...multiple species of gulls all feeding on the immense amount of fish in the water column! In the photo above you can see Herring Gulls flying and feeding in Quoddy River.
I'll leave you with a picturesque view of Greenspoint light with the harbour seals on splitting knife. Cheers!
