Up close encounter with Long Finned Pilot Whales

Whilst boat fishing in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall, UK, we spotted a pod of Long Finned Pilot Whales - Globicephala melas. They were very inquisitive and came over to us to say hello! The pod consisted of large adults along juveniles and they seemed to enjoy frolicking around us. They would come right beside the boat and one even soaked me with spray from its blowhole upon surfacing! Some showed tail slapping behaviour on the surface too. They stayed and with us and showed off for around 30 minutes before carrying on their way. An incredible and memorable experience with some very majestic marine mammals!

[@patrickcavanaghkilmartin]

So lucky, I look forward to the day, but your waters are somewhat deeper than ours in Dorset. Thanks for posting, keep them coming.

[@cruxie1]

I was just looking at the amount of synapes of the animals in the world. these long finned pilots could possibly be one of the most intelligent creature, more so than we humans..

[@LindaTCornwall]

Tail slapping and blowing is a sign of stress and agitation just so you know! They weren't putting on a display for you, but rather letting you know your presence wasn't wanted. Great video though... thank you.

[@CornishKayakAngler]

Linda T They had passed us earlier in the day at distance. Then when spotted again they came over to us (our engine was off as we were drift fishing) and they stayed right beside the boat for over 30 minutes. The mothers were letting the calves swim right up and practically rub against the boat. It wasn’t until the pod moved further off the stern (100-200m) that the tail slapping started. We thought that it may have been due to the blue sharks that were swimming around in the area just minutes before they had turned up, or perhaps the males getting boisterous with one another. They stayed within 300m of the boat for over an hour lolling on the surface before we had to leave. Fascinating to watch. Do you have any links to sources of information regarding the tail slapping and blowing behaviours in pilot whales, it would be good to find out more about this?