What to expect to see...

An impressive total of 20 species of cetacean have been recorded from the Pride of Bilbao since The Company of Whales was founded in 1996 - encounters which total in excess of 115,000 animals! In 2006 alone we recorded a staggering total of over 15,000 animals of 14 different species in over 20 voyages! But before you book with us in the expectation of seeing hundreds of cetaceans, we must warn you that there are no guarantees! Whale watching, even in the most productive of waters, requires patience and concentration. Hours can - and probably will - be spent staring at a sea where all that moves are the waves and the occasional seabird. Our experience tells us that given fair weather we will probably see whales and dolphins. It could be five, fifty or five hundred. We cannot tell, but what we can tell you is that we will draw on our experience and knowledge to maximise our chances of an encounter.

The bar charts below show the relative abundance of marine life for each month of our whale-watching season (May - September). This information is based upon the last eight years of research conducted by The Company of Whales in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. Whilst the bar charts give the general trends in seasonal abundance, the density and distribution of all marine life can vary from year to year.

May

May sees the peak of Nature's spectacular spring migration, with millions of land birds and thousands of whales and dolphins heading northwards across Europe to temperate latitudes. This is an excellent time to observe Common, Striped and Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Cuvier's Beaked Whale and Pilot Whale, with one or two of the larger whales also likely. Warblers, swallows, waders and birds of prey are regularly seen far from land as they head for their breeding grounds. With so many possibilities, this an exciting time to watch wildlife in the Bay of Biscay.

June

As we approach summer solstice, we take advantage of the long daylight hours to maximise our chances of sightings. This is the best time of year to encounter large numbers of dolphins porpoising into the bow. Between 500 and 1,500 of these elegant acrobats are typically seen on a trip in June. Common, Striped and Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Pilot Whale and Minke Whale are all likely, with the possibility of Risso's Dolphin, Killer Whale, Cuvier's Beaked Whale and Basking Shark.

July

Past July trips have included more cetacean species than in any other month with up to 11 species seen on a single trip. Unusual whales have also been seen during this month, none rarer than the True's Beaked Whale photographed in July 2001 - the first confirmed live sighting of this species anywhere in the world! Whale-watchers can expect to see a selection of dolphins and some large whales. The Spanish foothills are also alive with colour. Swallowtail, Cleopatra and Long-tailed Blue butterflies are on the wing and the hedges are full of singing Fan-tailed Warblers, Serins and Red-backed Shrikes.

August

The number of large whales present in the Bay increases rapidly during early August, as Fin, Sei and occasionally, Blue Whales enter the region to exploit the large quantities of zooplankton and fish thriving in the warming waters. Sometimes only a handful of Fin Whales are present, but in good years we have seen as many as 100 of these magnificent giants on a single trip. Performing whales regularly engage in breaching, tail slapping, lunge feeding and fluking to the delight of onlookers. Seabird passage is also starting to peak with large numbers of Great and Cory's Shearwaters arriving alongside smaller numbers of Sabine's Gulls and four species of skua. Ocean Sun fish and Basking Shark are regularly seen.

September

Autumn offers a fantastic opportunity to witness a migration spectacle both above and below the water. With the southward migration in full swing, migrant land birds pass by the ship or take a rest on deck. Previous highlights have included Icterine Warbler, Crossbill, Pallid Swift, Osprey, Peregrine - and the now famous Masked Booby. Cetaceans are also on the move and this is probably the best time of year to encounter Sperm Whales as they return from cold-water feeding grounds. Other likely cetaceans include Fin Whale, Cuvier's beaked Whale, Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Risso's Dolphin. Warm waters also bring rarer beaked whales and the occasional False Killer Whales. To add to the excitement the foothills of northern Spain are often brimming with migrant birds resting and feeding after crossing the Bay.