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Mythos Expeditions Kodiak--Whales--thewildcoast.comThe whale researchers aboard the Mythos this past summer made a comment that stuck in my head. "This is some of the best whale watching in the world, and it is accessible." In response, here is our web page featuring some of the whales we observed . It must be noted however, that some of these jpegs were possible only because we were operating under a permit allowing us to take the researchers closer to the whales than ordinary observers are allowed. Still, staying within the NOAA guidelines, we can see incredible whales. |
To see and to be seen...humpback spyhopping. |
My 2002 sighting of a blue whale swimming with a large group of fin whales has yet to be backed up with photographs. I hope to have that opportunity this summer. Join me if you like.
Humpbacks
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Cows and calves travel and feed together. |
A young humpabck plays with bull kelp. |
By far the most common whale in Kodiak is the humpback.
Playful, gregarious, and demonstrative, humpys may be found off most
headlands feeding on schools of small fish and invertebrates.
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The camera freezes the ever moving whale. Reviewing your photos will reveal more details. |
The shape, color, and the parasites of the flukes help researchers identify these whales. |
Finback Whales
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Finback whales are found in several locations around Kodiak Island feeding in deep water on schools of small invertebrates. Singly or in loose groups of up to twenty, these large whales do not seem to be particularly concerned about being observed and will sometime approach the stopped boat and inspect it. |
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Gray Whales
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The gray whales were shy about the camera. |
Numerous and yet hard to see well. |
Feeding in large groups on the east side of Kodiak,
or in bays, gray whales seem to have made a remarkable come back around
Kodiak. Research conducted in Kodiak in 2002 shows grays feeding in
50 fathoms on muddy "crab" bottom.
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Killer Whales
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We saw these whales two days later, seventy miles away. |
Traveling in family groups, there are often large numbers of orcas together. |
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Sometimes shy... |
...and sometimes not. |
The rapid and nearly incessant travel of the killer
whales around Kodiak led to higher population estimates than new research
supports. It is hard to predict where these fascinating whales will
appear. Keep your eyes peeled.
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Mythos Expedition website is created, designed, and maintained by Dave at Mythos. Last updated in April of 2004. All photos are (c) dkubiak unless otherwise noted. |