Rare visitors in the Bay!
As every day, the waters of Skjálfandi Bay can hold many surprises. Today, we did not know what to expect as Hildur set sail into the Bay. Our first trip, though a bit bumpy, showed us one friendly Humpback whale, which was happy to show off its black and white patterned fluke, much to the delight of our passengers and crew. This whale surfaced several times near us, allowing everyone to get a good view before setting sail back towards Húsavík. Steady winds from the South let us put all the sails up, and our passengers were able to enjoy the beauty of one of Iceland’s only schooners. A Fin whale was also spotted by some of our other boats, easily distinguishable by its tall blow. Indeed, fin whales are the second biggest species of whale in the world, and a definite sight to see.
Our second trip of the day was aboard our motorboat Bjössi Sor, and we set course to the West of the Bay in hopes of spotting some more friendly Humpback whales. Some blows in the distance revealed the presence of whales, though which species was not yet known. As we got closer, we saw that these were not ordinary Humpback whale blows, coming from the surface at an angle. There was only one whale whose blow could fit this description: Sperm whale! A very rare visitor for the Bay, we were absolutely ecstatic to see it. We soon noticed not one, but five Sperm whales around. They stayed on the surface for quite some time, allowing us to get close enough to appreciate their size, characteristic lop-sided blowhole, bumpy back and papery fluke as they went down for a dive. A surface-feeding Humpback whale was also around, coming up for a breath quite frequently, and giving us a view of its bumpy face and outstreched throat. Thinking the Bay could not surprise us any more, we set course back Húsavík. As we always say, the whale watching is not over until we are back in the harbour! And indeed, a Minke whale was a nice treat on our way back. As if all this were not enough, the Bay became a real work of art as the sun set, and we were all once again astounded by the beauty of nature all around us.
Photo by: Christian Schmidt
Photo by: Kathryn Gavira
