Whale Watching Sightings Log – Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya whale watching log

KEY

JEH = Sightings reported by Jetwing Eco Holidays

GdSW = Sightings reported by or to Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Sunday, 22nd April 2012

Maithri Liyanage (Ruwala Nature Resort) was out in the sea and spotted over 50 Sperm Whales going south. We were with them from 10.30am to 11.45am and were fortunate to see three Sperm Whales breaching too. ‘This was the first time I witnesses a similar act’ noted Maithri.

Saturday, 21^st April 2012

Maithri Liyanage (Ruwala Nature Resort) spotted a group of 04 Sperm Whales off Kandakuliya at around 11:30am travelling South. A fifth Sperm Whale who was solitary was also spotted at 11:53am heading South.

Mervyn Fernando and Joseph Rodrigo (Boatman operating from Kandakuliya) reported a pod of 08 Sperm Whales logging at 11.05am travelling South. Sighting occurred at N 08 17 130; E 79 37 527.

Monday, 16^th April 2012

Gehan de Sillva Wijeyeratne, Ashan Seneviratne and Riaz Cader reported the following.

10.00 am 1 Bryde’s Whale. N 08 17 771, E079 40 374 10.30am  500 Spinner Dolphins, N 08 17 082, E 79 40 252.

10.45am 3 Sperm Whales, N 08 17 487, E 079 39 008. At 12.30 am the group of Sperm Whales in view numbered at least 4 and were at N 08 20 749, E 079 37 145.

11.07am 5 Pomarine Skuas in flight, N 08 18 262, E 079 38 210.

12.50am 2 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters + 23 Bridled Terns, N 08 21 015, E

079 34 070.

1.30pm 1 Persian Shearwater, the third year in succession for it to be recorded off Kalpitiya. Was in a mixed flock of 20+ Bridled Terns,

1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater and White-winged Terns.

Boatman Keerthi Anura Christopher at around 10am filmed a Blue Whale on a compact camera near the dolphin line. Keerthi said he had never seen a large whale like this before and was unable to identify the species until the footage was reviewed.

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Gehan de Sillva Wijeyeratne, Ashan Seneviratne and Riaz Cader reported the following.

08.00am 1 White-winged Tern in breeding plumage, 20-25 Bridled Terns.

N 08 19 415, E 079 41 873.

08.50am Crimson Rose butterfly. N 08 24 048, E 079 40 349.

09.00am 70-80 Bridled Terns. Also White-winged, Little and Common Terns. 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater. N 08 24 337, E 079 40 745.

09.00am + 4 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters close to each other at N 08 24 430, E 079 41 153 11.00am Caught up with tail end of Sperm Whale pod estimated to be 50 by Maithri Liyanage. We saw 17. At approximately N 08 12, E 79 39 with the Sperm Whales spread out over a nautical mile or more.

Saturday, 21st March 2012

Supurna Hettiarachi (Jetwing Eco Holidays) was on tour with Neil and Alexandra Harris and had sightings of Risso’s Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and Spinner Dolphin.

Friday, 20th March 2012

Supurna Hettiarachi (Jetwing Eco Holidays)was with Neil and Alexandra Harris and had sightings of 03 Sperm Whales off Kalpitiya on the 20th March.

03 Trips between 30th March – 30th April 2011

Sightings appear to be concentrated from February to April. The data so far suggest that the Dr Charles Anderson hypothesis is correct and the majority (if not all) of the Blue Whales and Sperm Whales are taking part in the U-shaped migration between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and have left Sri Lanka towards the end of April.

SIGHTINGS LOG

2011 Sightings Log

Monday 2nd April 2011

JEH. No sailing.Rough Sea.

(Suchitra Hettiarachchi with client Kate Goldberg and her touring party)

Friday 1st April 2011

JEH. 07 Spam whales seen close to the reef.01 Flesh-footed Shearwater, 01 Sooty Tern and numerous Bridled Tern seen.

(Suchitra Hettiarachchi with client Kate Goldberg and her touring party)

Thursday 31st March 2011

JEH. 02 Spam Whales seen 13 NM out at sea. 01 White-tailed Tropic Bird and numerous Bridled Tern also seen.

(Suchitra Hettiarachchi with client Kate Goldberg and her touring party)

2010 Sightings Log

Mid April 2010

GdSW. Susantha had seen 2 Sperm Whales. Informed GdeS on Wednesday 19 May 2010. About a week after the last trip with GdeS. Had not taken out boats for about 3 weeks when GdeS visited on 19/20 May 2010.

Sunday 11 April 2010

GdSW. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Riaz Cader photographed a Blue Whale at 12.10 am at N 08 14 978, E 79 37 094.

Monday 29 March 2010

GdSW. Nadim Majeed Facebooked Gehan on Tuesday 6th April to say he had seen a pair of Whales. The species is uncertain.

Sunday 28 March 2010

GdSW. A boatman who was taking people dolphin watching (clients had life jackets) said he had seen a whale 3 x length of boat. No pronounced blow. Fitted description of a Sperm Whale. Details given to Gdes on Sunday 4 April, at sea.

Saturday 27 March 2010

GdSW. Susantha had seen 3 Sperm Whales in-shore of the reef when whale watching. Details given to Gdes on Saturday 3 April).

Wedensday 24 February 2010

GdSW. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Nikki Connolly and Linda Fennell with Boatman Susantha had 5 Sperm Whales swimming South around E 79 35.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

GdSW. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Dallas Martenstyn, Georgina Viney with Boatman Susantha had 5 Sperm Whales swimming North around E 79 35.