Sunday, 25 May 2014

Tour at 17:00

Report from Hafsúlan: The wind picked up and the waves were white capped. Shortly after leaving the harbour there was a huge gathering of fulmars sitting on the water and on the way towards the area where we have been successful before, we saw 10 different seabird species, even some feeding northern gannets. Despite white caps and the cold wind and rain in our eyes we found 2 pods of surfing Harbour Porpoises and 4-5 Minke Whales. The first two were quite difficult to watch because of the elusive behaviour and the rougher sea conditions. But luckily more appeared which hopefully gave everybody a good luck to see these species. When we had to head back towards Reykjavik we slowed down several times because another minke appeared.

- Carine Zimmermann

Tour at 13:00

Report from Hafsúlan: The rain hadn't stopped yet but at least the sea looked blue and calmer. On our way out we found a juvenile northern gannet together with an adult. Soon the first dorsal fin of two dispersed groups of White Beaked Dolphins broke through the surface. We had a really good look at these dolphins while swimming close by, visible under water or by breaching in the distance. Joe and Double Cheese Bite could be recognised by our researcher on board. Later we spent some time with one Minke Whale which even surfaced once showing his entire head where you could see its light coloured chin. In between we had several good looks at some Harbour Porpoises surfing alongside the boat.

- Carine Zimmermann

Tour at 09:00

Report from Hafsúlan: Over the course of the day we were braced for some high winds and plenty of rain, we were ready to get as wet as the whales. But thanks to our protective overalls and raincoats on board we were cosy and warm. And this morning we managed to find two species. Over the course of the trip we found 4 groups of Harbour Porpoises, many of these porpoises were elusive and wouldn´t come near us but one group was very different. This was a pod of around 3-4 porpoises that swam straight toward us and beside us. And what made this even better was that it was during a sighting of a Minke Whale! We had found an area that had at least 2 minke whales, we even got to smell one of them as its terrible breath came over us. But it was a pleasure to see and smell these whales and on the way home we even found a third minke whale!

- Jack Ball

Birds seen on today's tours include: Northern gannets, atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, common guillemots, black backed gulls, arctic terns, arctic skuas, kittiwakes, manx shearwaters, eider ducks, razorbill, petrels.