Tour at 17:00 Report from Hafsúla The wind had picked up a little bit this evening when we sailed out. The puffins were at home in Akurey when we took our stop there. We searched for a very long time now. We saw few harbour porpoises fast swimming away from us twice. The wind was blowing little harder now but we did not give up until we were back in Reykjavík harbour. Very disappointing tour!! Complimentary tickets were giving and we hope for a better luck tomorrow.

Tour at 13:00 Report from Hafsúla The weather was still nice this afternoon when we sailed out and the puffins were still at home. It took us some time again to find the whales after having just a glimpse at few harbour porpoises fast swimming away from us. Once we were out there we found a nice minke whale. This one was very actively feeding and it was coming up all around us! We stayed with this minke for the whole tour in a very nice weather.

Tour at 09:00 Report from Hafsúla We sailed out in a cold but very beautiful weather this morning. We headed straight out to Akurey to see if the puffins were at home. They were there so we could take a moment to observe these nice little birds. After the puffins we headed further out in search of the whales. It took us a little time until we saw our first minke whale. Soon we saw it was not alone, and we had a lot of minke whales all around us! This was very nice and we even had few diving gannets as well! Very nice tour in a beautiful weather.

Tour at 1700 The first evening tour and it was great. It was alot nicer to have 9 passengers onboard to have more one to one contact and talk more with each. We headed very far offshore and saw many blows most likely of Minke Whales during the duration of this tour but again we only saw blows (exhaled breath of whales). All of the whales were so elusive today and the puffins had disappeared. It is so weird what changes the wildlife so drastically. If only we knew but thats nature for you and the mystery of it is what makes it so appealing. Thats hope it doesn´t last for to long and that tomorrow will be different.

Tour at 1300 Again no Puffins on the Islands but we did see Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Brent Geese, Greylag goose, Eider Ducks, and many seagulls but no puffins. We did see three species of ceaceans on this tour Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoises and White-beaked Dolphins. However, the Minke was only seen twice in the distance and wonderfully spotted by one of our passengers and one by me the guide after that, nothing. The Harbour Porpoises were fleating past now and again The dolphins were better and you could see them breaching in the distance and as we got closer they surfaced just 10-20 meters from the boat 5-7 of them. They did this twice and like the Minke Whale they vanished into the wild blue yonder.

Tour at 0900 It was a little rough on this mornings tour and very cold so everyone had to wrap up warm and make use of our free overalls, blankets, and rain coats which are also good for the wind. We first visited Puffin Island Akurey and unfortunately not even one puffin. It was like playing "Where´s Waldo" with no Waldo. Were did all the puffins go. We did see a couple offshore but not as many as we did. Maybe they thought that it was getting warmer and then because it cold again they headed off again, who knows. Its nature and nature is so mysterious. The cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) we also very elusive for this tour. We did see Harbour Porpoises a couple of times on this tour but no biggers whales. At the end of the tour we did hear from another whale watching vessel of one but once we got there nothing. Lets cross our fingers that its better for the next tour.

Tour at 13.00 Unfortunetly we had to cancel the whale watching tour at 13.00 due to a storm out at sea. The office is open till 15.00 today so please come down to the old harbour or ring us if you require further information. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Tour at 9.00 Due to strong northern winds in Faxaflói Bay we decided to start our tour today from Gríndavík and brought all passengers there by bus. Starting there we still had some wind and swell but the shelter from land made the sea conditions much better than in front of Reykjavík. We sailed not very long until the first passengers shouted ten o'clock and there was a cetacean around, unfortunately we could see it very hardly. Once we headed on we found straight ahead a pod of White Beaked Dolphins. They were surfacing quite a few times around us and than they suddenly surfaced just in front of the boat! Wow!!! We could see their whole bodies under the surface when they were diving under the boat! After sailing in a greater area around Gríndavík we encountered a second pod of White Beaked Dolphins, that surfaced slowly in front of us. A rough morning with strong wind and great White Beaked Dolphins!!!

Tour at 1300 After the morning tour we were exited if the Minke Whales might be easier to watch but before we headed further out into the bay we stopped again at Akurey too look at the Puffins. Once we came to the area were we usually spot whales we started the tour with a small pod of Harbor Porpoises. We did not spend a long time with them as we wanted to find a bigger species in this tour and this was a good decision. Not a long time after the porpoises we saw the first blow of a Minke Whale. This time we got a bit closer and saw it a few times but still it was challenging to follow. While waiting for the first Minke to surface again we spotted a second Minke Whale in a distance. We went to this individual and finally we found one we could stay with for a while. It was slow surfacing many times and we could hear the whales blow loud and clear. Getting curious about splashes further away we headed there as fast as possible and found White Beaked Dolphins again. Great to have three species in one tour!!! We stayed with them for quite a while and recognized that there were some Minke Whales in a distance at the same time. Amazing to have baleen and toothed whales in the same area. Before we left the Dolphins they came really close to us again. It seemed as if they wanted to check us out, diving under the boat and surfacing not more than 3 meters away!!!! Again it was the time that forced us to head towards Reykjavík but we had to stop once more on the half way back, as we encountered two more Minke Whales. We had a quick look at them before we finally headed back after a very productive tour in a calm and peaceful bay. On the way back a big group of Harbor Porpoises surfaced close to us so we had the same species in the end of the tour as we started with!!! Great day!

Tour at 0900 Starting with a little bit rain into the bay from the older harbour in Reykjavík we stopped on our way out at Akurey a small island in front of the capital. Akurey is one of the Puffin colonies and it is great to see them coming back to the cost after a long winter on the open ocean. Coming further out into Faxaflói Bay we saw a blow from far away. It was a Minke Whale but it surfaced only one more time and we could not get closer to it. After that our next stop were some Harbour Porpoises, the smallest and shiest cetaceans around Iceland. How great was it after that to encounter a pod of White Beaked Dolphins!!! They came incredible close to us, were diving under the boat and we could see them surfacing many times. There were individuals in all sizes and once we could see their whole bodies under the surface. As they seemed to head away from us we decided to leave them in peace and searched for a bigger species. It took us a bit until we spotted more White Beaked Dolphins this time jumping close to the boat. Great show!!! Just when we wanted to head on another Minke Whale surfaced, unfortunately again only two times. We searched for quite a while hoping to find a bigger Whale we could have a better look at but there where not more of them around. The time ran out and we had to sail back to the older harbor after great sighting of White Beaked Dolphins. A Dolphin Morning in front of Reykjavík!!!

Tour at 1300 It was raining when this tour started but it wasn´t long before it stopped again. This tour was also very productive with the wildlife. Not only did we see 3 or 4 Minkes but also many Harbour Porpoises and plunging Gannets and Puffins swimming on the waters surface. A great wildlife experience.

Tour at 0900  Well the weather has turned a little bit miserable today with the cloudy skies and the occasional rain shower. The seas were also a tad rougher today so the free sea sick tablets came in handy. We sailed to Akurey puffin Island to check out how many puffins were there and we were glad we did because there were thousands. The Minke Whales were a little difficult this tour and we knew there was two in the area but we only saw one at a time. We actually got quite close to one but then it was up to the whale if it wanted to come even closer. We saw many Harbour Porpoises as they played around the boat and skimmed the waters surface.

Tour at 1300 What a tour, best tour in a long time with Minke Whales (at least 10-15 individuals we saw throughout the tour) surfacing in all directions and distances, Harbour Porpoises skimming the waters in their little groups and Gannets plunging into the water a meter or two from the boat and if that wasn´t enough we had mirror calm seas and dynamic cloud formations giving the skies a moody but bright look. We also saw many Puffins scattered everywhere swimming on the waters surface or flying rapidly through the air. On a couple of occasions we just turned of the engines and listened to nature at its best. Great tour.

Gannet Plunging into the water close to the boat

Minke Whale surfacing to breath.

Tour at 0900 Beautiful day and tour this morning. We had cloudy skies and it only rained lightly once for a very short time before a rainbow came out and the sea conditions were nice and smooth. We wanted to check out the puffin situation on the islands we have close to the city as the tide and sea conditions were perfect. We don´t start our regular Puffin Watching tours till the 15th May but it was great to see how many puffin were there and there were lots. We stayed there for a couple of minutes before heading further offshore. We came to an area were there was 4-5 Minke Whales a couple we got quite close too within 10-20 meters at least but it is always up to the whales if they want to come even closer. We also saw many Harbour Porpoises throughout the tour. We left these Minkes and went further offshore to see if there was anything else in the bay like dolphins but unfortunety, no. We did find another area with two more Minke Whales that we went to see which had no other whale watching boats around. Again we had some really nice close encounters with one of these Minkes before we had to head back to the harbour. Great Whale Watching day.

More pictures from the days tours

Pictures taken by Megan Whittaker (www.megsterphotography.blogspot.com)

Tour at 0900 The perfect day for Whale Watching, not only was the weather beautiful but the whales were in abundance. Saw many Harbour Porpoises surfacing everywhere and about 2 Minke Whales one that we went back to at the end of the tour because he/she was coming so close to the boat just meters away so that you can see the white bands on the pectoral fins and hear the big load blow and it was one we new really well called Midi the Minke which has been seen every year since 2008, so it is really nice that this Minke is still safe from the whaling. The other Minke was quite elusive so we didn´t spend too much time with it. We saw many seabirds also, gannets plunging into the sea, fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, puffins, guillemots, arctic terns, arctic skuas, black-backed gulls, razorbills and black guillemots.

Tour at 1300 The weather was still beautiful when we headed out to search for the whales. After only few minutes of sailing we spotted harbor porpoises. They were everywhere surfacing around us. We did not stop there but headed on in our search for the bigger whales. Soon we spotted a minke whale. This one was actively feeding but our fish finder told us that all the fish was down on the bottom, so we decided to try another area. We did not have to search for a long time until we found another minke, and then another one, and another one! We had about 4-5 individuals in this area. They were not all on the same spot so we sailed between then and we were able to take a good look at them. On our way back home we spotted 4-6 other minke whales! Wow so many minkes this beautiful afternoon among lot of seabirds including fulmars, black-backed gulls, kittiwakes, gannets, puffins, guillemots, arctic terns, arctic skuas, razorbills and black guillemots.

Tour at 1300 We started in to the absolute calm Faxaflói Bay in a beautiful sunshine and just a little bit more wind than we had this morning. We could see both peninsular and the glacier far out in the bay. After we sailed for a bit into this calm and beautiful bay we came in an area with a lot of Harbor Porpoises but as soon as we stopped the engine they became illusive, so we decided just to sail slowly and to have a look at them while searching for a bigger species. This was the right decision as we found a Minke Whale far out in the bay. This one was really great, slow travelling it surfaced many many times close to the boat and we heard the loud blows again and again. Maybe it was even resting a technique when the whales are turning off one half of their brain, while the other half keeps on thinking about surfacing. After we spend a long time with this great Minke Whale, we found a second one even further out in the bay. We saw it for a few times until we got a call from another boat that there are White Beaked Dolphins in an area towards Reykjavík. We headed straight forward towards this area but unfortunately the dolphins weren't there anymore. But still this was a great afternoon in the bay!!!

Tour at 0900 Just a few minutes after the older harbor we stopped again at Akurey the Puffin Island, to see if there are already more of those cute birds. And there were a lot of them around, that keeps us looking forward to a hopefully good Puffin summer. After we passed the Island we headed a bit out into the bay until we encountered a pod of Harbour Porpoises. We stayed with them for a bit, before we started to search again. We found two Minke Whales in a different area which were both really difficult to spot. One of them we knew since last year, its name is LIKE SMILE and we saw it last June and July. As they were both difficult we went on with our search and found a third one that we saw much better. We stayed with it again until we were out of time and headed back towards Reykjavík. But on the way back we could not believe our eyes, when we spotted a pod of White Beaked Dolphins!!! WOW, great to see them again after quite a while!!! They stayed really close to our boat and even dived under us, jumping dolphins on the way back not more than ten meters away!!! We did not expect that but this was a great and a fantastic tour in a brilliant weather!

Pictures will follow later.

Tour at 1300 Again we sailed in a wonderful sunshine into the calm Faxaflói Bay. Just the wind got a little bit more and it was a bit more choppy this afternoon. It cleared up even more, so we could see the Glacier far away in the Bay. Again we did not sail very long until we found the first group of Harbor Porpoises, that surfaced many times. Every time it is nice to look at those small mammals that are just the same size than us. Finding a bigger Whale was more challenging this afternoon than in the morning. We sailed for a long long time and just saw twice a part of a bigger marine mammal until we found a Minke Whale again. But this one was nice to us after it changed direction several times it came so close to the boat that we could clearly hear the blow and even see the two blowholes on the back of the head. It was not more than 15 meters away from the boat and we recognized, that we knew this one since quite a while. Once more it was Megan the Minke Whale we saw during the last weeks on many tours and we encountered first in 2010. A great afternoon in a beautiful weather with a happy and after a long search for Megan the Minke Whale!!!

Tour at 0900 Still sailing from Reykjavík again the weather was amazing this morning and the sea conditions could not be better. We could see far far away into a really calm bay. First we stopped at the Island Akurey a Puffin Colony close to Reykjavík, to see if the first Puffins arrived after the winter and it was great to see that there are already a lot of them around busy searching for their partners and cleaning the earth holes they are nesting in. Heading on into the Bay it did not take us more than a few minutes until we saw a flock of feeding birds, that woke our interest. And our high hopes came true we already found a pod of Harbor Porpoises surfacing many times close to our boat. We could see them under the water using the energy of the waves. Heading on, after this great event we had not a lot of time to relax as the first Minke Whale showed up not far away from us. Soon we came closer to the animal and we surrounded at least by 2 individuals maybe even more. Both were surfacing many times and came really close to us. It was a great experience to stay with them in a beautiful and calm bay. What a day again with nice Mine Whales and a lot of Harbor Porpoises.

Tour at 1300 The weather was still nice but again alittle cold, we headed to the same area as this morning and at last on the way we saw many Harbour Porpoises, saw some surfacing only a meter of two from the boat and you could see them clearly surfing the swells. We saw a quick glimpse of a Minke pretty soon in the tour but that was all we saw of this whale so after a bit of waiting we headed further offshore and it wasn't long before we came across two Minke Whales together. They never surfaced at the same time but you could tell that there was two there because they had different dorsal fins. It is very unusual to see a pair of Minkes together as mothers and calves usually seperate before migrating back to the feeding grounds. After a while they seperated and we watched one whilst the other whale watching boats from different companies watched the other surfacing slowly and sometimes close to the boat too, to the point that you can hear that amzing "whoossh" of air escaping their nasal passages. On the way back we also saw another Minke Whale and so Three individual Minkes we saw really well on this tour but none we were able to identify 100% from the research catalogues we have onboard.

Tour at 0900 Today was just lovely. calm seas and blue skies what more can you ask for, well maybe to make it a little bit warmer as there was a nip in the air making all of our passengers make use of our free overalls and blankets we have onboard. This morning was a little bit different to the mornings we have had over the last couple of days as there there seemed to be less whales around even Harbour Porpoises which we have been seeing loads of. Maybe due to the Perigee "Super Moon" which is as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons of 2012 according to Nasa's science news. The first sign we saw, and we headed towards, was a big flock of feeding birds, mainly seagulls, and a couple of fulmars, puffins and gannets but no whales. There was a lot of birds feeding in this area so we had high hopes but nope no whales to be seen. We headed further offshore but still nothing. Eventually we got word from another whale watching vessel in another area of a pair of Minke Whales they were watching so we were on our way. Once we got there the whales were always quite far away but or patience paid off and one surfaced just 10-15 meters from our boat. As it was quite late in the tour we couldn't spend to long so and we began our journey back to the harbour. On the way home however, we saw another Minke and had to stop. We were a bit late back to the harbour but in the end got to see two Minke Whales and many plunging Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Seagulls and Fulmars.

Tour at 1300 (Report from Elding) Having high hopes after the morning tour we headed straight towards the same area again were we spotted so many Minke Whales in the morning. The weather was still great, the sky was clear and we had a lot of sun but still it was windy and the waves moved our vessel up and down. It took us a long time until we spotted the first group of Harbour Porpoises, as usual for the tiny shy species we just saw them a short time. But they seemed to be surfing in the waves, and we could see some of the under the surface several times. After that it took us a long time again until we found a second pod of Harbour Porpoises, we had a short look at. Unfortunately we could not find any bigger species even we searched in the whole area we saw them just a few hours before. Had to believe after this great morning but wild animals are unpredictable. To give everyone on board the chance to search for the bigger Whales again we gave complimentary tickets.

Tour at 1300 (Report from Hafsulan) The weather was pretty much the same on the morning tour with choppy seas, unfortunetly the direction of the wind was unfavourable and on the way out you might of got a bit of a shower if you were sitting on the wrong side of the boat. We saw many Harbour Porpoises but you had to be quick to see them because they were there the next they we gone into the blue yonder of Faxaflói Bay. We searched and searched for Minke Whales but none were seen and so complimentary tickets were given. Its nature and as everyone knows nature in unpredicable so you have to take the bad with the good but lets tomorrow will be better in the afternoon tours.

Tour at 0900 (Report from Elding) Knowing that it might be a bit choppy out in Faxaflói Bay today, we started our first tour good prepared in nice sunshine with some winds. On the way out we had the wind from the front, but as soon as we turned the boat it was much better. After we searched for a while we spotted our first Minke Whale of the tour, and it did not take us very long to recognize that there were quite a few around!! At least 5 or more individuals in the same area including one really small calve and some Harbour Porpoises. The calve was so sweet and really really small, might be just some months old or from the last year. Some of the older Minke Whales came very close to our boat not more than 5 meters away and several times one of them showed part of his/her head. A great morning with a lot of Minke Whales in brilliant weather with a bit a swell. Nice morning and great to be on the sea to visit the marine life around Iceland!!!

Tour at 0900 (Report from Hafsulan) It was choppy out in the bay today which was fun for some not so fun for others but the sun was shining and the marine life numerous. We headed to our favourite place, an area of Faxaflói Bay which has been very busy with seabirds and whales the last week and again it didn´t disappoint. Many Harbour Porpoises porpoising, Gannets diving, Puffins flapping their wings at 100-400 beats/minute, Guillemots diving down, Kittiwakes skimming the surface and Fulmars well taking all that they can get. The Minke Whales were a lot of fun as they entertained the passengers stopping them, Over there, blow 12 o´clock and there too and 2 o´clock, the passengers and I were shouting. A couple of the Minke Whales were really enjoying the swells of the sea and each time a big swell came you could see the dark shadow of a Minke Whale in it. Thoughout the tour we saw at least 5-7 Minke Whales and even one of our regulars called Megan. Megan has been seen every year April, May time since 2010 and we have seen her/him alot over the last couple of days too. Its always so nice to see a Minke we know well.

Tour at 1300 The wind had picked up a little on this tour so it was quite chilly so more of our passengers made use of the free overall and blankets we have onboard. The whales were more difficult on this tour too but we got to see three species. First it was Harbour Porpoises which were porpoising along as we headed offshore and then a pod of about 7-13 White-beaked Dolphins surfacing all together on occasion which is incredible to see. Then we left these dolphins to it to go and search for a Minke Whale and after about 10 mins of searching one surfaced just 20 meters from our boat and it was one we knew very well. The Minke Whale was called Peanut and he/she was seen every year since 2007. We stayed with Peanut a while before seeing another in the distance and as Peanut had two other whale watching vessels near it we decided to go see the other one. We tried to get closer to the second minke but it didn't surface again untill we were about to leave and then suddenly it surfaced just meters from our boat. Perfect ending to a perfect day.

The identification marks of Peanut the Minke Whale

Tour at 0900 The perfect day to be at sea. Flat calm seas, blue skies, sun on full beam, great visability and fantastic whales. We sailed for about 30 minutes seeing Puffins and Harbour Porpoises on the way, until we saw our first sign of activity. A flock of feeding seabirds mainly gulls, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills but unfortunetly no whales. Then as i was looking through the binoculars i saw a Minke Whale further in the distance, then another, then another. Once we thought we were in the middle of them all we turned off our engines and enjoyed the sounds of nature. We had at least 10-15 Minke Whales some close, some further away, and some far far in the distance, some lunge feeding and rolling and some just surfacing normally. After a while we even had Harbour Porpoises joining in, one was so clear travelling just under the waters surface along side the boat. Incredible tour.

Pictures from todays tours

Pictures by Megan Whittaker (www.megsterphotography.blogspot.com)