The water was filled with wildlife that put on an amazing show Sunday — with the season’s first blue whale sighting, a fin whale, Risso’s and common dolphins giving a tour group something to literally cheer for.
Dana Wharf boat captain Larry Hartmann on the boat Ocean Adventure credited the sharp spike in water temps – going from 62 to 71 in just a week – to the increase in activity.

Dana Wharf also reported whale sightings on boats today. Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching and Safari also reported blue whale sightings again today, and a pod of about 3,000 common dolphins.
“I’ve been on the water since I was 11, I’ve never seen a show like that,” said Hartmann, 44. “It was one of those days, both trips were off the charts. It seems as if summer is here.”
The day started off with action during the morning trip, when a group of Risso’s dolphins – the largest type of dolphins out in local waters – came out to play.
“They are really a cool dolphin,” he said. “We had not seen them in a long time.”
Risso’s dolphins are not like the more familiar gray common dolphins. The Risso’s are gray at birth, but turn white as they get older. They are skittish around boats, but even five feet under water they seem to glow because of their skin color. The white color is actually scar tissue, which happens as they spar with other dolphins.

“You can’t sneak up on them, you’ll spook them,” he said. “It’s like a white missile, it’s phenomenal.”
On the second trip, a large group of bottlenose dolphins showed up, a couple of them jumping up about 10 feet into the air for spectators. The Ocean Adventure boat is a new catamaran,  and dolphins weaved in and out of the open bottom.
“They really put on a good show for us,” he said.  “A couple of them jumped and got everyone wet on the boat.”
As they were heading back in, the first blue whale of the season made its appearance. The whale – 100 feet in length – fluked twice for the passengers to show off its 10-foot wide tail.

“Everyone gave him a round of applause and started high-fiving each other,” Hartmann said.
At the same time, a Minke whale came up, wowing the tour group.
“We were already late, we finally told the passengers, ‘we have to get in’,” he said.
Then of course, a fin whale pops up, and they had to stop.
“With the warmer water coming in, it seems like it will be a heck of a year,” he said. “Last year was not really a good year. This year, everything has kind of picked up.”

To see a daily count of what animals are seen out there, check out this list Capt. Dave’s pulls together.

Want to see some whales? Click here for a list of whale watching charters.

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