Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Tour at 17:00

Report from Hafsúlan: We sailed out from Hafnafjörður as the Sei Whale should be close and it was, only 20 minutes sailing and we found it again. It was incredible, so big. The third largest of all whales getting up to 21 meters long and weighing up to 45 tons. What is even more interesting is that on the 4th September 2012 we also saw a Sei Whale in the eact same area, could be the same individual? well hopefully we will find out soon when we compare the dorsal fins. After over an hour with the whale with hafnafjörður in the background and a rainbow overhead. It was just perfect, also the sailing back with the beautiful setting sun.

-Megan Whittaker

Tour at 13:00

Report from Hafsúlan: We sailed from Reykjavík into the swell and headed south but closer to land, we spotted a blow on the way but unfortunately did not see any whale eventhough we searched the area thoroughly. We then travelled past Hafnafjörður and that when the captain shouted blow 11 o´clock, we knew by the size of the blow that it was not a Minke Whale and second thought was a Humpback Whale but neither was right because once we got closer we knew that it was a Sei Whale, the third largest whale in the world. The second sighting of one (as far as I know) that the company has seen. This species is usually very far out at sea, prefering it offshore in depths of over 700m, but here it was in just 30-40 meters deep water extremely close to land. A very special and unique experience. We ended the tour at Hafnafjörður just so that we could spend longer with the whale.

-Megan Whittaker

Tour at 09:00

Report from Hafsúlan: We sailed out from Reykjavik and sailed south past Grotta the lighthouse, this is where the captain spotted a blow and we scanned the area of more signs of the whale but unfortunately nothing more was seen of whales throughout the tour.  We even travelled past a big flock of Gannets feeding which showed alot of promise but nothing there either. We offered our passengers complimentary tickets in the hope they would return with better luck next time.

-Megan Whittaker

Birds seen on today's tours included: Northern Gannets, Northern Fulmars, Guillemots, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Kittiwakes, Cormorants, Phaloropes, Eider Ducks.