Last month, during one of our evening sunset tours, we had a really special encounter. Seeing a baby blue whale is one of the rarest things we can see here in the bay, and maybe one of the rarest whale-watching encounters in general.
As our recent post has mentioned, the end of June has been incredibly busy here in Skjálfandi Bay, with many humpback whales staying between the 22nd and 26th of June. During our evening tour on the 24th, we witnessed something truly fascinating that deserves a closer look.
Hey, did you see me? No? Too slow! How about another round of hide-and-seek? Wait, what – did you just call me a dolphin? Dear human being, I AM NOT A DOLPHIN - I’m the elusive HARBOUR PORPOISE! Just look at me: a rounded head, a short mouth, and a small curved dorsal fin.
Whales are "conscious breathers", meaning they must actively control every breath they take. Unlike humans and most other land mammals, they cannot rely on automatic breathing. Instead, breathing is under voluntary control of the central nervous system (CNS).
Puffins tend to look a bit clumsy when flying, not surprising, they have to beat their wings up to 400 times per minute to stay in the air! In photos, they look a lot more graceful. The puffins we visit during our tours are busy feeding their chicks, flying back and forth to puffin island.
🐳 “Whale soup” sounds odd—especially to whale watchers—but in Húsavík it’s the best thing you can hear on the VHF before heading out. It means there are so many whales in the bay that you lose count, and sailing through them feels like moving through a giant soup of whales.
Skjálfandi Bay is famous for its whales, but the skies above the bay are just as full of life. Throughout the season, a variety of seabirds and migratory birds can be spotted here, adding another dimension to every wildlife adventure.
Today's whale watching tours gave us a rare opportunity. While observing a humpback whale repeatedly tail slapping, the tail was lifted high enough above the water for us to get a clear view of the genital area, allowing us to identify the individual as most likely a male.
Whale watching never gets old. Whether we work as guides, captains, in the ticket center, management, or behind the scenes, many of us still love joining tours whenever we get the chance. This is not only our job, it is something we genuinely enjoy.
Skjálfandi Bay is best known as a feeding ground for juvenile and adult humpback whales. Numerous individuals visit the bay throughout the season, many of them returning year after year. Since humpback whales migrate to subtropical and tropical waters to give birth, calves are not a common sight in the area.
