Azores (1 Viewer)

TWM · May 26, 2015

While in the Azores Whale watching I thought it would be a good idea to see the Bullfinch.
I got in touch with Gerby Michielson ( [email protected] ) and he took us out for the day. He took us straight to the Bullfinches and we ended up seeing a couple of dozen. He also took us to see breeding Roseate Terns and a Pied-billed Grebe. He picked us up at our hotel, provided a picnic lunch and returned us to the hotel for 65 euros. He also does Pelagic trips from the Azores but I don't know any details.
I highly recommend him if you are there (he is based on San Miguel), he can virtually guarantee Bullfinches and knows all the rarities on the island.

TWM · May 27, 2015

A couple of photos.

StuartReeves · May 28, 2015

How did the whale-watching go Tim?

Allen S. Moore · May 28, 2015

StuartReeves said:
How did the whale-watching go Tim?

Any blues?

Stephen Dunstan · May 28, 2015

Yes he is very enthusiastic. Did you see any Azorean Eiders?...

TWM · May 28, 2015

We saw Blue Whales (5), Fin Whales (6), Sei Whales (4), Sperm Whale (1) plus Common and Bottlenose Dolphins.
A Very successful week.
Plenty of Azorean Eiders!!

Allen S. Moore · May 28, 2015

TWM,

When exactly were you in the Azores? Who did you go whale watching with? My biggest ambition is to see a blue whale, but I've dipped 6 times so far!

I was in the Azores myself last summer (Ponta Delgada and Horta), but never heard the joke about eiders. Please explain!

Allen

Stephen Dunstan · May 28, 2015

Allen S. Moore said:
I was in the Azores myself last summer (Ponta Delgada and Horta), but never heard the joke about eiders. Please explain!

Allen

Allen,

Domestic Mallards with a lot of white in them.

Stephen

StuartReeves · May 28, 2015

TWM said:
We saw Blue Whales (5), Fin Whales (6), Sei Whales (4), Sperm Whale (1) plus Common and Bottlenose Dolphins.
A Very successful week.
Plenty of Azorean Eiders!!

Not bad at all!

Allen S. Moore said:
TWM,

When exactly were you in the Azores? Who did you go whale watching with? My biggest ambition is to see a blue whale, but I've dipped 6 times so far!

Same here, though I've only dipped about four times! My next opportunity to dip is this weekend...

Jos Stratford · May 28, 2015

StuartReeves said:
Same here, though I've only dipped about four times! My next opportunity to dip is this weekend...

Can't you go to California - in season, almost impossible to miss, no? Or have you already done so?

Allen S. Moore · May 28, 2015

Jos Stratford said:
Can't you go to California - in season, almost impossible to miss, no? Or have you already done so?

I've never been to the USA (or Mexico), or to Sri Lanka. I have also read that there is a good area for blue whales off the north of Iceland, but that is in July when I am carrying out my studies of (red-billed) choughs, if I'm lucky.

Stuart, good luck this weekend!

Allen

dantheman · May 28, 2015

Allen S. Moore said:
I've never been to the USA (or Mexico), or to Sri Lanka. I have also read that there is a good area for blue whales off the north of Iceland, but that is in July when I am carrying out my studies of (red-billed) choughs, if I'm lucky.

Stuart, good luck this weekend!

Allen

Not just July - we managed not to see them in May, when they were also quite gettable from land.

Dave Williams · May 28, 2015

Allen S. Moore said:
TWM,

When exactly were you in the Azores? Who did you go whale watching with? My biggest ambition is to see a blue whale, but I've dipped 6 times so far!

I was in the Azores myself last summer (Ponta Delgada and Horta), but never heard the joke about eiders. Please explain!

Allen

I saw Blue Whale in Sri Lanka last year and I hate to say it but it was a bit of an anti-climax compared to the Orca that we saw nearby. You only see the tip of the iceberg in terms of the body, the most impressive bit is the tail as it dives but that was not too dramatic either. As for the 'blow' it was a bit like a wet f**t, the Orcas have the 'umph'you expect when they blow.

Jos Stratford · May 28, 2015

Dave Williams said:
I saw Blue Whale in Sri Lanka last year and I hate to say it but it was a bit of an anti-climax c.

My first Blue Whales were too, but on second trip a couple of years later we found a pod of 12 lunge-feeding at the surface, this was unbelievable! And surrounded by mega seabirds too, and a couple of Humpbacks. One of best experiences of my travel days,

TWM · May 29, 2015

Blue Whales are best seen during May in the Azores. We went with Dolphin and Whale Connection, and the boats were Futurismo. We stayed in Ponta Delgarda.
I also saw Blue Whales near Svalbard in Mid-June a few years ago.
Flights to the Azores are pretty cheap with both Easyjet and Ryanair going.

Dave Williams · May 29, 2015

Jos Stratford said:
My first Blue Whales were too, but on second trip a couple of years later we found a pod of 12 lunge-feeding at the surface, this was unbelievable! And surrounded by mega seabirds too, and a couple of Humpbacks. One of best experiences of my travel days,

Sounds good Jos, where were you?

Jos Stratford · May 29, 2015

Dave Williams said:
Sounds good Jos, where were you?

Monterrey Bay, California - first trip was the 12 hour offshore birding trip, second a trip aimed at the whales.

StuartReeves · May 29, 2015

Jos Stratford said:
Can't you go to California - in season, almost impossible to miss, no? Or have you already done so?

Greetings from San Diego!

TWM · May 29, 2015

StuartReeves said:
Greetings from San Diego!

That should do the trick!
Enjoy.

Jos Stratford · May 29, 2015

StuartReeves said:
Greetings from San Diego!

:t:

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