Mystery Whale (1 Viewer)

Dipper

Well-known member

• Mar 12, 2004

• #1

Hi

On a recent birding trip to Oaxaca, S. Mexico I took a couple of boat trips from Puerto Angel on the Pacific coast. Humpback Whales were promised and certainly whales were seen. I've attached a photo of one particular whale which is thought to be another species. Can any of you put a positive ID to it?

 

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cuckooroller

Registered User

• Mar 17, 2004

• #2

Dipper,

I think you're probably going to have to wait until Hell freezes over on this one!!!

 

cuckooroller

Registered User

• Mar 17, 2004

• #3

It's some kind of Baleen whale if that helps.

 

cuckooroller

Registered User

• Mar 17, 2004

• #4

If I had to guess this is probably Balaenoptera physalus.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2004

• #5

An indication of size would help - and blow/dive pattern -like could you see that fin at the same time as the blow, or after.

If I'd seen it in Biscay I'd be pretty sure it was indeed Fin Whale as Steve says, based on the fin shape...or Brydes.

With a little more information it will be possible to get close to ID-ing I guess if its actually quite small and there was no obvious blow - it could be a Minke.

Blue can be ruled out on colour and fin shape... and thought tricky to rule out 100%, it doesn't look like Sei to me.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2004

• #6

Here are my field notes for Fin and Sei Whale.

 

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esmondb

The fool that MrT doesn't pity

• Mar 17, 2004

• #7

Minke Whale, I'd say, estimating size from wave size and splash.

 

Dipper

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2004

• #8

cuckooroller said:

Dipper,

I think you're probably going to have to wait until Hell freezes over on this one!!!

Click to expand...

Great album by the way, Eagles, Hell Freezes Over

 

Last edited: Mar 18, 2004

Dipper

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2004

• #9

Jane Turner said:

Here are my field notes for Fin and Sei Whale.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions. The whales I saw were my first ever so I was just enjoying the experience, snapping some pics. Humpbacks were seen in the area several times on each trip. I was hoping that the fin shape might give enough clues. Even though I have no experience to compare with I think this whale is too small for Blue but much bigger than a Minke.

Regards

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Mar 19, 2004

• #10

Fins are almost as big as Blues! Did you see any blows?

 

Dipper

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2004

• #11

Jane Turner said:

Fins are almost as big as Blues! Did you see any blows?

Click to expand...

I did see it blow. A single one. But I'm new to whales, so any info I give should be treated like that of a total non birder describing some exotic rarity found in their back garden I was hoping the photo would be enough. Sorry I can't help more.

 

A

alcedo.atthis

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2004

• #12

Whale?

"Humpbacks were seen in the area several times on each trip. I was hoping that the fin shape might give enough clues.
Regards"

Going by the overall shape of the fin, Humpback first and only choice.
The fore-edge of the dorsal fin is too elongated for anything else, also the double step points only one way.


Malky @ Westhill

An opinion is only a conclusion based on current available information.