Humpback whale offshore near Cape Cod
The waters around Cape Cod are home to many marine mammal species. Whale watch cruises got out daily in summer to view these sea creatures. But for those who don’t like to be on the water or whose budget is tight, there is another option. Whales, dolphins and seals are regularly viewed from Cape Cod beaches. It’s just a matter of knowing where to go and how to look for them.
Seeing seals on Cape Cod
Common seals and grey seals may be viewed year round. One of the best places to look is in the waters around Chatham. The Chatham Fish Pier is a good place to start, especially when boats are unloading their catch. Or take a walk down South Beach along the Chatham Harbor side. Large numbers of seals are often seen in this shallow bay.
Another good spot at low tide is Town Neck Beach in Sandwich. Look for seals on the exposed offshore rocks or in the waters of the Cape Cod Canal. When walking any of the beaches of the Atlantic coast of the Cape keep an eye out just offshore. Look for their heads popping up out of the water between dives for food.
Finding dolphins near Cape Cod beaches
Dolphins may be a bit trickier to see from land but they are around, often coming into Cape Cod Bay following fish. Once again the Atlantic coast is a good place to start. In particular Race Point or Herring Cove in the Cape Cod National Seashore are likely spots to find dolphins as they make their way through the narrow entrance to the bay.
Or spend some time looking around Wellfleet Harbor. Dolphins often come in to this area following fish.
Whale watching from shore on Cape Cod
Race Point Beach is a good place to look for whales as well as dolphins. Sometimes distance spouts or blows are seen far offshore. Other times the whales may come in close to feed, traveling up and down the coastline where they are easy to see with the naked eye. Humpback and fin whales are the most commonly seen species but keep an eye out for the small, fast moving minke whales.
In spring and fall it is possible to get a glimpse of the highly endangered right whale. Some years large numbers make their way into Cape Cod Bay to feed on their way to and from their summer home in the Bay of Fundy. In 2008 the right whales were seen regularly from Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable for several weeks.
The best way to see whales, dolphins and seals from land on Cape Cod is to keep your eyes on the water as you walk the beaches. The seals pictured below are resting offshore at Town Neck Beach in Sandwich,
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