Watch This Rare Whale Mom, Baby Spouting Off Dana Point

DANA POINT, CA — Whale watchers got a close look at not one but two rarely seen Bryde's Whales this week, according to our friends at Dana Wharf Whale Watching.

Experts tell Patch that the often misidentified Bryde’s (pronounced "broodus") whale is likely the part of a larger pod. This mom and baby, or cow and her calf, were spotted just a few miles offshore of Dana Point on Friday.

When you hop on board a whale-watching vessel, you can learn a lot about the ocean wildlife that comes across your path. On this adventure, guests of Dana Wharf Whale Watching learned all about the history of the unusual whales.

"They are named after Johan Bryde, a Norwegian who built the first whaling stations in South Africa in the early 20th century," Donna Kalez of Dana Wharf Whale Watching tells Patch.

The whales are often misidentified as Fin or Sei Whales.

How can you tell for certain? The three ridges on the top of a Bryde's whale’s rostrum distinguish it from the Sei whale or Fin whale, which only has a single rostral ridge, she says.

Bryde’s whales are usually seen alone or in pairs, prefer warmer or temperate waters, have a blow of 10-13 feet high and can consume almost 1,500 pounds of food per day, says Kalez.

Experts at Dana Wharf explain they are found in both nearshore and open waters. They can feed on three different types of food – fish, krill and plankton. They can grow up to 45 feet long, weigh up to 40 tons, and not migrate long distances.

With 3 stocks recognized by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Bryde’s whales observed off the California coast point to a larger population inhabiting at least the eastern part of the tropical Pacific and are also seen off the coasts of Oregon and Washington.

Do you want a chance to watch these lazy leviathans? Be sure to visit www.danawharf.com and book your next trip at the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World.