I'm back in Victoria between rotations working as a Marine Mammal Observer on seismic survey ships in the Gulf Of Mexico. My last rotation was much more interesting biologically than our December/January rotation which was likely due to much better weather conditions and the fact that we were in some shallower waters. We had many more marine mammal and migrating bird sightings especially during the last couple of weeks. Some highlights of marine mammal sightings included: Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenalla frontalis), Pan-Tropical Spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Melon-headed whales (Pepanocephala electra) and Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). One of the bird highlights of the trip included my first sighting of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus); a beautiful bird with a long forked tail and a pink belly. A very interesting sighting indeed!
Our ride to work
The Helicopter airport
Heading to the helicopter
Onboard and waiting to depart
View of the landing strip
Heading out to the Gulf from Galveston, TX
Galveston, TX
Flying over the Gulf of Mexico
Our lead MMO on the lookout for marine life en route
Helicopter Landing Officer coming to let us out after landing on the ship
Above 3 photos: sunset at sea
Starboard bridge wing
Welcome to my 'office'
Our CPR Annie hard at work!
Above 3 photos: Atlantic spotted dolphins, 16 joined us for 45 minutes one day
Hard at work! Actually, we were between watches so I took in some spring sun in the Gulf of Mexico
One of the chase boats coming to get some equpment from us
Spinner dolphin bowriding
Crew change day...the first helicopter landing on the helideck
Above 3 photos: then our helicopter landed and we were done our five weeks at sea!
Heading back into Galveston for breaktime!
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