Humpback Whales in Greenland – Thar She Blows
Living in Utah, I don’t see many Whales. Zero, in fact. Prior to moving to Utah, however, I lived near the California coast, so I have seen some during my life. It is always quite exciting to see them.
In my previous posts about sailing in the Ilulissat Icefjord of Greenland, those posts were all about icebergs, scenery, and landscapes. I mentioned only in passing that we had several Humpback whale encounters but didn’t show any details or photos. Instead, I left it for a future post. This is that post.
The previous posts about my Greenland adventure in order are:
- Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland – The Town (Our first three days in Ilulissat.)
- Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland – Sailing with Icebergs (The first three nights of sailing.)
- Ilulissat Icefjord – Pink Skies, Thick Fog (The final nights of sailing.)
Humpback Whale – Mother and Calf
The first encounter of a Humpback whale was on the second night while sailing to the small town of Oqaatsut 12 miles north of Ilulissat. The photo at the top, captioned Thar She Blows, is from that first encounter.
The photo at the top is cropped to focus on the spout as she exhales just after surfacing. But a wider view of that photo, actually reveals a second smaller whale. It was a mother and her calf.
The photo at the top is cropped to focus on the spout as she exhales just after surfacing. But a wider view of that photo, actually reveals a second smaller whale. It was a mother and her calf.
Soon after we spotted them, the mother whale turned around and headed in our direction. She came quite close to our boat possibly to investigate. She got so close that we could practically look down her blow hole.
Soon after we spotted them, the mother whale turned around and headed in our direction. She came quite close to our boat possibly to investigate. She got so close that we could practically look down her blow hole.
A little further out, she surfaced enough to see from the dorsal fin to the head, while she swam between the icebergs.
A little further out, she surfaced enough to see from the dorsal fin to the head, while she swam between the icebergs.
The mother whale kept doing pretty much what whales do, that is to surface for a breath every once in a while and dive back down, often lifting her tail as they dive to give us great views of her fluke.
The mother whale kept doing pretty much what whales do, that is to surface for a breath every once in a while and dive back down, often lifting her tail as they dive to give us great views of her fluke.
Sometimes they would lift their tails so much that they stuck straight up into the air before descending down. I noticed then that the underside was not the typical black and white coloring only, but had some chestnut coloration as well.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 1: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
Sometimes they would lift their tails so much that they stuck straight up into the air before descending down. I noticed then that the underside was not the typical black and white coloring only, but had some chestnut coloration as well.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 1: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
It was pretty cool to watch them swimming around close to the icebergs and to see their tails lifted with an iceberg in the background.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 2: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
It was pretty cool to watch them swimming around close to the icebergs and to see their tails lifted with an iceberg in the background.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 2: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
Again, she made another close approach, even closer than the first time. This time it even seems like we can see her cheeks. In fact, these are not fleshy cheeks like ours. They are actually the massive jawline framing her mouth.
Again, she made another close approach, even closer than the first time. This time it even seems like we can see her cheeks. In fact, these are not fleshy cheeks like ours. They are actually the massive jawline framing her mouth.
She makes another dive with water streaming off her tail. A Gull comes in close, following her. That is often how you can tell ahead of time where a whale will surface, because the Gulls know that food for them will often come up to the surface when the whale does.
She makes another dive with water streaming off her tail. A Gull comes in close, following her. That is often how you can tell ahead of time where a whale will surface, because the Gulls know that food for them will often come up to the surface when the whale does.
She takes a vertical dive as the tail slips smoothly into the water, so close that you can see the barnacles on her tail.
She takes a vertical dive as the tail slips smoothly into the water, so close that you can see the barnacles on her tail.
Another vertical dive, this time showing how close the whale is to the shore. You can see the rocks just beyond the icebergs. Whoever lives in that house must get a great show.
Another vertical dive, this time showing how close the whale is to the shore. You can see the rocks just beyond the icebergs. Whoever lives in that house must get a great show.
Now, it is time for us to move on. But we get one final look at the mother and calf when they surface to get a breath as we say goodbye.
Now, it is time for us to move on. But we get one final look at the mother and calf when they surface to get a breath as we say goodbye.
Humpback Whale in the Ilulissat Icefjord
Our second encounter with a Humpback whale was on the fifth night after midnight. Recall that Ilulissat is above the Arctic Circle and we were there in late July when the summertime Sun would not go below the horizon until about 12:45 AM. Even when it did, there was still plenty of light all night.
As we maneuvered in the mouth of the icefjord, we came across this lone whale swimming and diving right in front of a towering iceberg. As he lifts his tail to dive, the water forms a curtain streaming off the tail.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 3: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
As we maneuvered in the mouth of the icefjord, we came across this lone whale swimming and diving right in front of a towering iceberg. As he lifts his tail to dive, the water forms a curtain streaming off the tail.
Greenlandic Whale Tales 3: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
Like the previous encouter, sometimes he would swim by very close. So close we could look down his blow hole.
Like the previous encouter, sometimes he would swim by very close. So close we could look down his blow hole.
Again and again, he would come up and dive down very close to the iceberg. I wonder what the view was like from his perspective.
Again and again, he would come up and dive down very close to the iceberg. I wonder what the view was like from his perspective.
Occasionally, he would surface enough to see his massive jawline. Water would stream out of his mouth through the baleen plates. This is how Humpbacks eat, by taking a mouthful of water and pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth. The baleen plates in the mouth filter the food from the water in the process.
Occasionally, he would surface enough to see his massive jawline. Water would stream out of his mouth through the baleen plates. This is how Humpbacks eat, by taking a mouthful of water and pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth. The baleen plates in the mouth filter the food from the water in the process.
In preparation for a dive, he would curl his back as his head would dip down, giving a good view of his dorsal fin. Eventually, the head and back would dive below the surface while the tail would come out only to disappear out of view.
In preparation for a dive, he would curl his back as his head would dip down, giving a good view of his dorsal fin. Eventually, the head and back would dive below the surface while the tail would come out only to disappear out of view.
It turns out we were not the only ones interested in this whale. One other sightseeing boat was there as well. By this time, the Sun had just set and you can see sunset colors in the clouds above the iceberg.
It turns out we were not the only ones interested in this whale. One other sightseeing boat was there as well. By this time, the Sun had just set and you can see sunset colors in the clouds above the iceberg.
Although close-up shots are cool, I wanted to switch to wide angle as well to get some whale shots in context with the giant icebergs to give a real sense of scale.
Although close-up shots are cool, I wanted to switch to wide angle as well to get some whale shots in context with the giant icebergs to give a real sense of scale.
In this photo, not only do you see the whale in context with the giant icebergs, but you can also see the Belt of Venus above them.
Greenland: Land of Giants: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
In this photo, not only do you see the whale in context with the giant icebergs, but you can also see the Belt of Venus above them.
Greenland: Land of Giants: Fine Art Photographic Print (Click image to Purchase)
As we prepared to leave, I took one more photograph of the whale diving behind a smaller iceberg, and then said my goodbyes thanking him for sharing such a wonderful time with us.
As we prepared to leave, I took one more photograph of the whale diving behind a smaller iceberg, and then said my goodbyes thanking him for sharing such a wonderful time with us.
Concluding Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this four part series of blog posts reminiscing about the wonderful trip as much as I did. I have done a number of trips to both local and far-away locations, but to date, this is my favorite trip of all. Writing these blog posts has reminded me of that, so thank you for being my audience while I write these posts. You give me encouragement to do so.
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