WHALE TALES FROM ABACO (2): MALE BLAINVILLE’S BEAKED WHALE
This second post about the Blainville’s Beaked Whales of Abaco, Bahamas, relates to a prolonged encounter with a group of mothers, calves and a male. This was our second BBW sighting on the same day in March: the first is described HERE. Click the link to find out more details about these wonderful creatures, with plenty of close-up photos.
We had been invited by Charlotte and Diane of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation BMMRO to spend a day with them on the research boat. This was our first chance to get close to whales, a chance made far more likely by (a) being with experts and (b) their specialist equipment…
Our first sighting was a short distance south of Rocky Point, as we moved into the deeper, darker ocean waters of the Bahama canyon, with the shoreline still clearly visible. We then visited HOLE-IN-THE-WALL in the RHIB and took a close look from the sea at the damage and destruction of the famous Hole caused by HURRICANE SANDY.
On the way back we paused as we got to the same area where we had seen the group earlier in the day. Within minutes, several whales came straight towards us. This photo shows 3 adults and, almost submerged, a calf.
For the next hour or so, they played around the boat like very large dolphins moving in slow motion. Usually these whales make a deep dive every 20 minutes or so and stay underwater for about the same time before resurfacing. These ones stayed with us throughout.
Mostly they stayed quite – or very – close to the boat. Sometimes they swam across the bow or even under the boat. From time to time, they would move off some distance. Each time we thought they were moving on, and each time they soon returned. After a while the females and calves were joined by another whale – the less common sighting of a male replete with barnacle-encrusted teeth protruding upwards from his lower jaw.
The male initially stayed slightly further away from the boat than the others, perhaps assessing the threat to the group. Then he too joined in, passing and repassing the boat, swimming away and returning, remaining on the surface and offering a wonderful view of his noble head (see header image and below).
Looking at my photos later, I realised that a second male must have joined the group for a short time. The image below shows a male with far fewer barnacles – certainly not the male we had been watching.
It was remarkable to see these huge creatures behaving in much the same way as dolphins, swimming playfully around and under a boat, moving away, then returning for more. These whales are some 15 feet long and weigh about 2000 pounds. They were inquisitive, unafraid (even with calves in the group) and gentle. Maybe they sensed that they have been to subject of years of intricate research by Diane and Charlotte that will materially assist with the preservation their species. More likely, the group were simply enjoying themselves in the sun with a peaceful intruder in their territory.
You don’t have to go miles offshore to see whales in Abaco waters
BMMRO research RHIB with Diane BMMRO HQ, Sandy Point, Abaco
Credits: All photos RH except one; Charlotte & Diane for a brilliant day out; Mr Blainville for a brilliant whale; Mrs RH for snapping me snapping the whale – a photograph that was featured in a competition in the Guardian Newspaper.
A wonderful encounter and story and photos! I wish I had been there.
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Well, we wish you’d been there too Woody. We had dolphins with calves too. And flying fish arrowing over the water, flashing in the sun. Just… one of those fabulous experiences. RH
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Amazing creatures and photographs. I wonder why the barnacles were growing on the teeth. Does this indicate that the teeth were not being used and therefore the barnacles were able to settle and grow without danger of being scraped off?.
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Oops sorry Jessica, missed this somehow. The ‘teeth’ are really more like tusks and ornamental save for one thing – they fight with them in the breeding season. Then I expect the barnacles dive for cover. The striations on the backs of some whales are caused in this way. The round circles are caused by ‘cookie-cutter’ sharks. RH
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So cool. Makes me think the two largish cetaceans we observed in the Santaren Channel in 2012 were probably beaked whales.
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Interesting that you saw beaked whales there. I can easily check if you like (I’m not an expert), but I think Blainville’s would be the likeliest candidate. Cuvier’s are another possibility but they are larger. ‘Largish’ sounds more like Blainville’s. Did you get any photos? RH
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Fantastic! Inspiring!
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Thanks, Sherry. I hope it comes across how hugely exciting the whole day was. I never believed whales played around boats like that! RH
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Wonderful shot and marvelous creatures!
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Thanks Cindy. One of our best days out ever! RH
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