FROM SMALLEST TO TALLEST
The first week of April passed by very quickly and so much has happened since our first tour of the season left the harbour. Since it is the beginning of the season, whales are only just returning from their breeding grounds in the tropical waters. However, in the upcoming days and weeks, more and more individuals will return to their feeding grounds here around Iceland.
The beginning of the season can be both, exciting and testing. Since the whales’ migration is still ongoing, not every departure might have seen a whale this last week and tours might have had quite different outcomes throughout the day.
Following are the words of Felix who joined us these days: “First day of the season: A sea lion and a few harbor porpoises. Got a voucher to come back for free anytime. Very next day: A frickin' BLUE WHALE! The largest animal to have ever roamed the earth. I mean, come on, it doesn't get any better than that.”
The exciting part of this time of the year are all the surprise visitors we get in the bay and which we won’t get to see during the high season.
Therefore, within just one week, eight different whale species showed up in Skjálfandi Bay, among them both the smallest and tallest cetaceans we could possibly find: the tiny harbour porpoise versus the huge blue whale! Other species encountered were fin whales, sperm whales, humpback whale, orcas, white beaked dolphins and a minke whale.
- Sarah
