Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The southern-swooping jet stream that has provided the frigid temperatures to start our season may have nudged the whales our way as well. Last week, a single right whale was confirmed off the coast of Indiatlantic, south of Cape Canaveral. In the last two days, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aerial survey team reported right whales between 4.8 and 13 nm east of the St. Augustine Inlet. The sightings included one mother/calf pair and two groups of five whales headed in various directions. Today, they had three sightings between 8 and 13 miles north of Ponce Inlet, including another group of five whales. While the whales in the last two days traveled too far east for us to see and photograph from shore, it appears that they are moving into our stretch of coastline. Keep those eyes on the ocean!