Marine mammals have made quite a showing so far. Some rather unexpected highlights included two sightings of beaked whales breaching near the ship. These rare glimpses afforded little chance for positive identification. Upon much discussion we have narrowed the possibilities down to Southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons) or Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) for our first sighting.
Our second sighting came late in the morning just before Roger Payne's "Introduction to the Whales" lecture. Another whale was spotted just as the blinds were being closed for the slide show. Another head-scratching session commenced and we narrowed our options down to either a Gray's beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi) or another Cuvier's beaked whale. Other marine mammal observations of note: one breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and several observations of fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella).
