The 1998 season of research trips was full of surprises, lots of wind, fog and fortunately many whales! Thank you again to Captain Greg Mercurio of the Yankee Capts for making sure our trips are always safe and comfortable.

Due to extremely huge seas, we were unable to get out to the offshore canyons (150 or more miles offshore) on the three-day excursion (June 30-July 2, 1998). The target species are sperm whales as well as other offshore and tropical animals that occur in the deep, Gulf Stream-influenced canyons. Though we couldn't get offshore, the trip was a great success from a research standpoint. We were able to survey several areas that are completely unreachable during our regular half-day trips, including the Triangle (off of Provincetown), Wildcat Knoll (east of Stellwagen), the Great South Channel, Fippennies Ledge and Cashes Ledge.
Trip totals included: 61-66 Humpbacks, 8 or 9 Fin whales, 13-14 Minke whales, 50-67 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, 2 Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish), 1 Basking shark, 1 Blue shark. 1 Navy ship, 1 Annoying jet, and too much fog! Humpback whales identified included Tear, Nimbus and calf, Fragment, Peninsula, Reaper and calf, Pinstripes, Cardhu and calf, Vulture, Springboard, Extreme, Pinball, Groucho, Pepper and calf, Foxfire, Cygnus, Salt and calf, Caber, and Midnight and calf.

Bird sighting totals (courtesy of Mike Gooley) included 1550 Wilson's Storm-Petrels, 995 Greater Shearwaters, 340 Sooty Shearwaters, 85 Common Terns, 62 Leach's Storm-Petrels, 12 Northern Gannets, 4 Northern Fulmars, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 1 South Polar Skua.

The next trip, an overnight trip on July 22, 1998, was also a huge success. We were able to survey areas, again, heading to Wildcat Knoll, the Triangle and the entire length of Stellwagen Bank. All told, we observed 58-63 Humpbacks, 7 Minke whales, and 30-40 Atlantic white-sided dolphins. We identified several individual humpbacks including Apex, Tribble, Pisces, Reaper and her calf, Icarus, Teapot, Timberline, Pinstripes, Reflection, Drumstick, Churn, Vader, Valley and her calf, Cascade and her calf, Pepper and her calf, Hale-Bopp, Tornado and her calf, Iota, Nucleus, Fern and her calf, Geometry, Rio, Coral, Anvil, Tear, Dusky, Pallette and her calf and Pebble! Wow!

We also observed many bird species (courtesy of Mike Gooley and Susan Carver) including 475 Greater Shearwaters, 260 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Manx Shearwaters, 25 Wilson's Storm-Petrels, 6 Northern Gannets, 320 Common terns, 1 Arctic tern, 20 Least terns, 2 Roseate terns, 2 Parasitic jaegers, 2 Ruddy turnstones, 1 Barn swallow and 10 Peeps!

The last research trip, a fundraiser aboard the Atlantic Queen II out of Rye, NH, was a fantastic success. We headed through parts of Jeffrey's Ledge down to the middle portion of Stellwagen Bank then north on the Bank. With beautiful weather, we ended the day with 42-43 humpback whales, 1 fin whale, 2 minke whales and 10-12 pilot whales! Humpback whales identified included Valentine, Nail, Tribble, Peninsula, Patchwork, Echo and calf, Chairlift, Sparta, Venom, Meerkat, Parens, Citation, Nile and calf, Sundog, Stellar, Fragment, Vader, Fan and calf, Hale-Bopp, Tornado and calf and Pepper and calf.

Bird aficionados on board were treated to interesting sightings such as two Merlin, two red bats, Parasitic Jaegers, Phalaropes, several Northern Gannets, and Greater, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters.

CORE wishes to extend our gratitude again to Brad Cook, owner of the Atlantic Queen, who generously donated all proceeds from this trip to CORE. His support of our research is most appreciated.

Thanks to all who participated in our research trips - we hope you will join us again in 1999!

Our 1998 Research Trip to the Canyons is available HERE. If you would like to access Mike Gooley's complete log from this trip please CLICK HERE. 

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