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Whale Watching Sightings Log – Trincomalee
Trinco whale sighting log
Trincomalee Whale, Dolphin Watching Observations
5 April 2010- 19 April 2012
SUMMARY
Recent data (especially from the Sri Lankan Navy) points to a commercially feasible strike rate for whales which extends Sri Lanka’s Blue Whale watching season from May to August off Trincomalee. This over-turns the prevailing view that the Blue Whale season finishes in April. Whale watching can now become commercially established during the ‘East Coast Season’. The combined Mirissa (December to April) and Trincomalee (March to August) seasons for watching Blue Whale now gives Sri Lanka the longest and best Blue Whale watching season in the world, spanning at least 9 months.
During May to August, Blue Whales remain close, around 6-8 nautical miles East of Trincomalee, about 30 minutes in travel time. Koneswaram Temple atop Swamy Rock is the best publicly accessible on-shore whale watch point in the world for watching Blue Whales.
Between March to August, Trincomalee has a combined strike rate of over 80 per cent for Blue and Sperm Whales. More data is needed at species level. Dolphins (mainly Spinner Dolphins) have a higher strike rate.
KEY
[Comments by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne are in square brackets]
JKH = Sightings reported by John Keels Hotels naturalists.
JEH = Sightings reported by Jetwing Eco Holidays naturalists.
SLN = Sri Lanka Navy.
26 April 2012
JKH Naturalist B. Dayarathne reported 10+ Pilot Whales. 1 calf.
25 April 2012
JKH Naturalist B. Dayarathne reported the same pod of 200+ Pilot Whales with Common Bottlenose Dolphin
23 April 2012
JKH Naturalist B. Dayarathne reported 200+ Pilot Whales
20 April 2012
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne reported the following.
08.39 am 10 Sperm Whales, N 08 34 9312, E 081 31 554
19 April 2012
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne reported the following.
07.18 am 20+ Spinner Dolphins, N 08 37 046, E 081 17 044.
08.32am 1 Common Tern, N 08 36 952, E 081 24 576.
09.00am 20 Sperm Whales, N 08 36 174, E 081 29 475.
SIGHTINGS LOG:
“The Sri Lanka Navy data between 11th June 2011 and 20th August 2011 does not identify the whales down to species level as being Blue Whales or Sperm Whales. The latter are social and often seen in groups. Based on conversations with the navy and passengers, it is likely that the majority of their sightings relate to Blue Whales”.
Saturday 10th September 2011
SLN. Near Trincomalee Harbour,
Charitha Fernando relayed to Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne a phone conversation with Commander Kosala Wijesooriya that the navy had seen around 50 whales close to the Trincomalee Harbour.
S
aturday 27th August 2011
B. Dayarathne. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 01 Sperm Whale, close enough to Swamy Rock, that someone atop it would have seen it.
Friday 26th August 2011
Clients unknown. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. Chaaya Blue Naturalist B. Dayarathne reported that the boatman had reported Blue Whales about 5-6 km away from Pigeon Island.
Saturday 20th August 2011
SLN. 7 Blue Whales at 09:30am on N 08 37 398 and E 081 18 164 and no Spinner Dolphins seen.
Thursday 18th August 2011
JEH. Supurna Hettiarachchi. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. Left 8.30am. 9.15am saw 03 Blue Whale spouts simultaneously in the distance. Was 5-6km away from shore, estimated. Sea turned rough soon after. On way back, around 10.00am had a Blue Whale close to Swamy Rock. Perhaps 1 km from the rock. Chartered boat with other colleagues in tourism. No clients on boat.
Wednesday 17th August 2011
JEH. From Swamy Rock, Supurna Hettiarachchi reported 03 Blue Whale spouts simultaneously in field of view from Swamy Rock. On a tour with Jetwing Eco Holidays tour.
Tuesday 16th August 2001
Eshan Goonesekera. Boat from Pigeon Island Resort.
Eshan Goonesekera showed Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne images of Blue Whales he had photographed about 30-40 minutes boat ride away. He reckons that there were 2 Blues
Saturday 13th August 2011
SLN. Ashroff Jetty. Ananda Dharmadasa (Devasurendra family). Had 5 Blue Whales in field of view. Navy personnel had claimed 06 were present.
Saturday 13th August 2011
JEH. Suchithra Hettiarachchi with clients Miranda Bakker and family.From Swamy Rock, 01 Blue Whale observed at distance through binoculars. Dived and surfaced again about 10 minutes later and blew several times. After second dive, Suhithra and clients left.
Saturday 13th August 2011 SLN.7 Blue Whales at 09:30am on N 08 41 150 and E 081 18 950 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 400 and E 081 16 700at 08:30am.
Wednesday 10th August 2011
SLN. Ashroff Jetty. Ananda Dharmadasa (Jetwing Travels group). 3 Blues Whales, 2 Blue Whales, 4-5 single sightings, 2 Blue Whales.
Not clear how many individuals were involved in the above sightings as some could be repeats.
Wednesday 10th August 2011
SLN. 2 Blue Whales at 09:30am on N 08 45 177and E 081 17 835 + 500 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 500 and E 081 16 450 at 08:40 am.
Monday 6th August 2011
SLN.1 Blue Whale at 10:30am on N 08 44 225 and E 081 14 125 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 450 and E 081 16 300 at 08:35am
Friday 5th August 2011
JEH. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Mohan Sahabandu and Gayan. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 1 Blue Whale. 7.55am on N 08 34 411, E 81 21 176. The boat departure point in the beach from the Chaaya Blue Hotel is on N 08 037 008, E 81 13 238.
Saturday 23rd July 2011
SLN. 4 Blue Whales at 10:35am on N 08 43 462 and E 081 16 453 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 600 and E 081 16 100 at 08:25am.
Saturday 16th July 2011
SLN.1 Blue Whale at 10:25am on N 08 47 609 and E 081 18 959 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 750 and E 081 16 700 at 08:15am.
Saturday 09th July 2011
SLN. No Whales or Dolphins seen.
Wednesday 6th July 2011
SLN. 1 Blue Whale at 10:30am on N 08 40 400 and E 081 18 300 + 100 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 650 and E 081 16 550at 0820am.
Saturday 2nd July 2011
SLN. 3 Blue Whales at 10:30am on N 08 42 498 and E 081 16 658 + 100 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 500 and E 081 16 500 seen at 0825am.
Wednesday 29th June 2011
SLN. 2 Blue Whales at 10:30a.m on N 08 43 520 and E 081 16 560 + 300 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 300 and E 081 16 400 seen at 08:45am.
Saturday 25th June 2011
SLN. 300 Spinner Dolphins at 08:30am on N 08 32 200 and E 081 16 250 + 2 Blue Whales on N 08 44 770 and E 081 17 575 seen at 10:30am.Not clear how many individuals were involved in the above sightings as some could be repeats.
Wednesday 10th August 2011
SLN. 2 Blue Whales at 09:30am on N 08 45 177and E 081 17 835 + 500 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 500 and E 081 16 450 at 08:40 am.
Saturday 6th August 2011
SLN. 1 Blue Whale at 10:30am on N 08 44 225 and E 081 14 125 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 450 and E 081 16 300 at 08:35am
Friday 5th August 2011
JEH. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Mohan Sahabandu and Gayan. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 1 Blue Whale. 7.55am on N 08 34 411, E 81 21 176. The boat departure point in the beach from the Chaaya Blue Hotel is on N 08 037 008, E 81 13 238.
Saturday 23rd July 2011
SLN. 4 Blue Whales at 10:35am on N 08 43 462 and E 081 16 453 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 600 and E 081 16 100 at 08:25am.
Saturday 16th July 2011
SLN. 1 Blue Whale at 10:25am on N 08 47 609 and E 081 18 959 + 200 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 750 and E 081 16 700 at 08:15am.
Saturday 09th July 2011
SLN. No Whales or Dolphins seen.
Wednesday 6th July 2011
SLN. 1 Blue Whale at 10:30am on N 08 40 400 and E 081 18 300 + 100 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 650 and E 081 16 550at 0820am.
Saturday 2nd July 2011
SLN. 3 Blue Whales at 10:30am on N 08 42 498 and E 081 16 658 + 100 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 500 and E 081 16 500 seen at 0825am.
Wednesday 29th June 2011
SLN. 2 Blue Whales at 10:30a.m on N 08 43 520 and E 081 16 560 + 300 Spinner Dolphins on N 08 32 300 and E 081 16 400 seen at 08:45am.
Saturday 25th June 2011
SLN. 300 Spinner Dolphins at 08:30am on N 08 32 200 and E 081 16 250 + 2 Blue Whales on N 08 44 770 and E 081 17 575 seen at 10:30am.
Wednesday 19 July 2011
Lester Perera. Boat from Nilaveli Beach.
No whales seen.
Saturday 18th June 2011
SLN. 250 Spinner Dolphins at 08:40am on N 08 32 150 and E 081 16 200 + 2 Blue Whales on N 08 43 148 and E 081 19 204 at 10:00am.
Wednesday 15th June 2011
SLN. 01 Blue Whale at 10:30am on N 08 45 358 and E 081 15 079 + 200 Spinner Dolphins at 08:15am on N 08 32 100 and E 081 16 150.
Saturday 11th June 2011
SLN.100 Spinner Dolphins at 08:30am on N 08 32 050 and E 081 16 150.
Monday 06th June 2011
SLN. No Whales seen.
Friday 6th May 2011
Libby Owen-Edmunds. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 4 sightings of Blue Whales, seen one at a time. Could have been anything from 1 to 4 whales which resulted in these sightings.
Tuesday 12th – Thursday 21st April 2011
Boat from Nilaveli Beach, by Chaaya Blue Naturalists. Information provided by JKH Chitral Jayatilake. Blue Whale sightings dropped off and became quite thin compared to the previous period.
Friday 15th April 2011
JEH. Clients Sarah Girling and family along with JEH Naturalist Tyronne. No sightings.
Thursday 14th April 2011
JEH. Clients Sarah Girling and family along with JEH Naturalist Tyronne. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 03 Blue Whales.
Saturday 19 March – Monday 11th April 2011
Boat from Nilaveli Beach, by Chaaya Blue Naturalists. Information provided by Chitral Jayatilake. 24 consecutive days of Blue Whale sightings.
(NB. Amos Nachoum photographed whales between 1st-11th April 2011).
Thursday 17 & Friday 18 March 2011
Boat from Nilaveli Beach, by Chaaya Blue Naturalists. Information provided by JKH. Chitral Jayatilake.
No whales seen.
Wednesday 23rd February – Wednesday 16th March 2011
Boat from Nilaveli Beach, by Chaaya Blue Naturalists. Information provided by JKH. Chitral Jayatilake. 22 consecutive days of Blue Whale sightings.
Monday 21st & Tuesday 22 February 2011
JKH. Boat from Nilaveli Beach, by Chaaya Blue Naturalists. Information provided by Chitral Jayatilake.
No whales seen.
[Between 27th April 2010 and 14th November 2010, there are data on 41 trips and Blue Whales had been seen 14 times. Repeated reminders have been sent to the Chaaya Blue naturalists requesting a soft copy so that it can be collated into this list].
Wednesday 3rd November 2010
JKH. Nilantha with Hotel guests 200- 250 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Saturday 30th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne 2010 with Hotel guests 200- 250 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Thursday 28th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne 2010 with Hotel guests 200- 250 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Wednesday 27th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Tuesday 26th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Sunday 24th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins about 12Km from Chaaya Blue + 1 Blue Whale seen at 07:50am.
Saturday 23rd October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins seen.
Monday 18th October 2010
JKH. Dayarathne with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins + 1 Blue Whale + 1 Sperm Whale
Tuesday 05th October 2010
JKH. Nilantha with Hotel guests 400- 500 Spinner Dolphins.
Saturday 02nd October 2010
JKH. Nilantha with Hotel guests 150- 200 Spinner Dolphins + 2 Blue Whales on 8.35.193N and 81.25.597E
Thursday 30th September 2010
JKH. Nilantha with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins + 20- 25 Fall Killer Whales on 8.35.018N and 81.20.780E
Tuesday 28th September 2010
JKH. Nilantha with Hotel guests 100- 150 Spinner Dolphins + 15 Sperm Whales on 8.37.47N and 81.20.30E
Friday 24th September 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests with the Tourist Board 65- 100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08:00 am + 1 Sperm Whales seen at 08.45 am.
Monday 20th September 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 150-175 Spinner Dolphins seen at 09:00 am.
Sunday 19th September 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-125 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08:45 am + 2 Blue Whales seen at 09.00 am.
Friday 17th September 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 200-250 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08:00 am.
Sunday 05th September 2010
JKH. Nilantha and Hotel guests 150-175 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.45 am + 1 Blue Whale seen at 08.30 am.
Tuesday 02nd September 2010
JKH. Nilantha and Hotel guests 100-150 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.45 am.
Wednesday 01st September 2010
JKH. Nilantha and Hotel guests 65-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.00am. + 2 Blue Whales seen.
Tuesday 31st August 2010
JKH. Nilantha and Hotel guests 30-50 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.45am. + 3 Blue Whales seen at 08.30am.
Monday 30th August 2010
JKH. Nilantha and Hotel guests 60-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.00am.
Saturday 28th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 75-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.30am.
Friday 27th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-150 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.30am + 1 Blue Whale seen at 07.10am.
Wednesday 18th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 150-200 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.45am.
Tuesday 17th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-150 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.00am.
Sunday 15th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 65-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.30am + 1 Blue Whale seen at 07.20am.
Saturday 14th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 200-225 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.00am + 2 Blue Whales seen at 07.00am.
Wednesday 11th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 200-250 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.30am.
Thursday 05th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-125 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.30am.
Wednesday 04th August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 75-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.00am.
Tuesday 03rd August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-150 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.45am.
Monday 02nd August 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 150-175 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.30am.
Sunday 25th July 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 60-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.30am.
Wednesday 21st July 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 20-50 Spinner Dolphins seen at 07.00am.
Thursday 15th July 2010
JKH. Dayarathne and Hotel guests 100-125 Spinner Dolphins seen at 08.00am.
Saturday 18th June 2010
JKH. Dayarathne, Viraj, Annina Mattssonand and Adnan saqf elhait 60-100 Spinner Dolphins seen at 06.45am.
Friday 04th June 2010
JKH. Dayarathne, Nalaka and Stephanie Millington 700-1000 Spinner Dolphins at 07.15am + 1 Blue Whale seen at 07.45am.
Monday 24th May 2010
3 Blue Whales seen.
Wednesday 19th May 2010
JEH. Trincomalee. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Supurna Hettiarachchi, Wicky Wickramasekhara, Suchitra Hettiarachchi, Ganganath Weerasinghe and Riaz Cader. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. No whales seen. Good numbers of Bridled Terns (100+).
Monday, 17th May 2010
JKH. Chitral Jayathilake, Daya and Nilantha Kodituwakku and Mike Unwin. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. No whales seen. Bad weather, short trip of around half an hour.
Sunday, 16th May 2010
JKH. Chitral Jayathilake, Daya and Nilantha Kodituwakku and Mike Unwin. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. No whales seen. 200-250 Spinner Dolphins seen at 09.00 am.
Thursday 6th May 2010
Personnel unknown. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. Boatman had told JKH Chitral Jayatilake he had 3 sightings of large whales. Could have been the same whale seen thrice.
Wednesday 5th May 2010
JKH.Chitral Jayathilake, Daya and Nilantha Kodituwakku. Boat from Nilaveli Beach.1 Blue Whale near Swami Rock filmed by Chitral and photographed by Nilantha.
Wednesday 5th May 2010
JKH. Chitral Jayathilake. Boat from Nilaveli Beach.
No whales.
[CONFLICTING DATA FOR 5TH MAY. CHITRAL TO CLARIFY].
Tuesday 4th May 2010
JKH. Chitral Jayatilake. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. Had a good viewing of 01 Blue Whale. 2 hours at sea.
Monday 3rd May 2010
JEH. Dr. Charles Anderson, Suchithra Hettiarachchi and Chitral Jayatilake. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. Had a fleeting glimpse of one Blue Whale. 3 hours at sea.
Sunday 2nd May 2010
JEH. Dr. Charles Anderson and Suchithra Hettiarachchi. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. No whales seen. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. 3 hours at sea.
Wednesday 28th April 2010
Nilantha, Dayarathne, Mohan, Sunil and Lankesha 6 Blue Whales seen at 08.30am.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
Nilantha, Dayarathne and Mohan 3 Blue Wales at 08.30am. + 100-150 Spinner Dolphins at 09.45am.
Sunday 25th April 2010
JKH. Daya and Nilantha Kodituwakku. Boat from Nilaveli Beach. 5 Blue Whales. [Not sure whether this is 5 sightings or 5 individuals seen].
Friday 23rd April 2010
JKH. Daya and Nilantha Kodituwakku. Boat from Nilaveli Beach.
[Conflicting reports of 3 and 6 Blue Whales].
Tuesday 6th April 2010
JKH. Nilantha Kodituwakku Boat from Nilaveli Beach.
No whales seen.
Monday 5th April 2010
JKH. Nilantha Kodituwakku Boat from Nilaveli Beach.
No whales seen.
