11-17-2006, 07:05 AM
Of the larger whales whose blows might be seen off CA, there are Gray, Humpback, Blue, Minke, Fin, Sei, and Sperm. All, except Sperm, have two nostrils; Sperm has one on the left side and blows off to the side. Blue and Fin are the largest whales and tend to blow more columnar. Minke and Sei, I've read, blows weakly in a bushy shape. Gray and Humpback blow more noticeably in a wider bushy spray. They will travel close to shore and their blows will be most visible. The blow of the Gray Whale is most likely to be a V-, or heart-, shaped, although a Humpback could appear that way, too.
A great guide to the cetaceans of the world, the Eyewitness Handbooks "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: The visual guide to all the world's cetaceans" by Mark Carwardine, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc. New York, 1995.
Oh, Orca also will travel close to shore, but usually they are very identifiable by the white saddle and taller dorsals.
Les
Edited by - Les C on 11/17/2006 11:08:53
A great guide to the cetaceans of the world, the Eyewitness Handbooks "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: The visual guide to all the world's cetaceans" by Mark Carwardine, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc. New York, 1995.
Oh, Orca also will travel close to shore, but usually they are very identifiable by the white saddle and taller dorsals.
Les
Edited by - Les C on 11/17/2006 11:08:53