New England Seabirds
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What Can You Expect To See |
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Humpback Whales
Identifying Humpback Whales Bubble Feeding Whales Breaching Entanglements Shipping Losses Other Whales Dolphins Ocean Sunfish Sharks Sea Turtles |
| Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
Common and the best whale for watching because it spends a good deal of time on the surface. |
| Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus |
Common |
| Minke Whale Balaenopter acutorostrata |
Common |
| Northern Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis |
Critically endangered. Seen in migration |
| Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus |
Offshore, Not usually seen on Stellwagen Bank. |
| Pilot Whale Globicephala melaena |
Not usually on Stellwagen Bank until late fall. A toothed whale. |
| Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena |
Common in the Gulf of Maine, but not a boat followers and not usually seen from whale watching boats. Appears only briefly on the surface and then swims away underwater. |
| Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus | Common but not seen on every trip. Rides bow-waves. Look for gray above and behind the eye with white oval area on side. |
| Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis |
Common on offshore trips. Not usually seen on Stellwagen Bank. Rides bow-waves. Yellow above and behind the eye. |
| Bottle-nosed Dolphin | Common on offshore trips. Not usually seen on Stellwagen Bank |
| Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina |
Very common usually close to land. At low tide rest on rocks in Merrimack River. More common Oct - May. Recovering from persecution. |
| Gray Seal Halichoerus grypus |
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| Basking Shark Cetorrhinus maimus |
More common on offshore trips. Sometimes on Stellwagen Bank. Large planton eating shark. Shows a large and small dark fin on the surface. |
| Ocean Sunfish Mola mola |
Summer especially August. Only shows a single dark fin on the surface. |