Krill + Fish = Seabirds + Whales.
I love the maths here. In truth, as any modeller of ocean ecosystems will tell you, the relationships between each trophic level are more complex than I state above. Nevertheless sometimes the outcome of these relationships are plain to see. In the last few weeks we have had a super abundance of krill. We have also had an abundance of their predators; fish such as sardines, baleen whales and seabirds, particularly Cory's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea. Day after day regular sightings of Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus, Fin whales Balaenoptera physalus and Sei whales Balaenoptera borealis have been thrilling our clients. So far six Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae have also been seen. These whales are particularly rare here, this side of the Atlantic.
The dorsal fins of a mother Blue whale and her calf.
The long flat rostrum of a surfacing Fin whale.
A Sei whale, note the proportionately short rostrum down turned at the tip.
A Humpback whale 'turning-tail'. Photo by Veronica Rossin.
Dolphins too, have been enjoying the abundance of food. Some have been seen feeding on the krill directly, but like the Cory's shearwaters they are more interested in the plentiful fish.
Common dolphins - all action as usual.
On some days swarms of krill are visible from the surface. When fish attack them they leap from the surface to escape.
The cycle of life. Two Cory's shearwaters fighting over a sardine.
Look carefully and you can also see tiny krill leaping from the water in front and behind the birds.