Friday, 27 February 2015

Tour at 13:00

Report from Hafsúlan and Elding: the fishing fleet has been catching abundance of capelin in recent days off Grindavik so we figured it would be worth the try to go there for today's tour; the whales follow their food and where there is plenty of fish like capelin or herring, there is the best chance to find whales. Both boats were taken to Grindavik this morning and went out together around noon, heading southwest towards Eldey island, a massive rock with a major northern gannet colony some fourteen miles offshore. Hafsúlan trailed close to land while Elding searched further out. Hafsúlan was having some harbour porpoises when Elding reported a blow! Both boats went in its direction and for a while there was nothing seen but we were so certain that we had indeed seen a whale that we were totally calm. Soon enough another blow and then another which made us realise that there had to be at least 2 humpback whales present. What a great joy it was to see this species again after almost three months of absence! We had an absolutely delightful two hours or so in the company of these ocean giants, during which there were many close up encounters. Both animals were clearly feeding, making many shallow dives and the number of gannets and other seabirds in the area confirmed that Grindavik is indeed the place to be while the capelin is there. It is Grindavik again tomorrow and probably for the next days after that so do join us!

- Baldur and Sigurlaug

Birds seen on today's tour: northern gannet, black-backed gull, common guillemot, razorbill, northern fulmar, eider duck, european shaq, black-legged kittiwake.