Cape Cod: Killer Whale Swims With Dolphins
This past Sunday, an Orca Whale was spotted swimming with dolphins by a crew of fishermen in Cape Cod. Off the coast of Provincetown, the group was fishing for tuna in the Stellwagen Bank.
CBS News shared photos, videos, and an interview with the fisherman stating, “Captain Kevin Simon spotted a ‘large fin’ among the pod of dolphins.” In their Instagram post, Simonsez Sportfishing claims to spot the Orca and dolphins “made up for a tuna-less day today.”
The mesmerizing video clip shows the large fin slowly navigating the water. At one point, the whale pops out, with much of its body being visible. It then dips back in and continues to glide. The dolphins, however, are seen parading behind the orca’s movements. There’s almost a theatrical rhythm to the cadence at which this all transpires. There was no mention of any rough interaction, as it appears all were out for a casual dip on a hot day.
This is the first sighting of Orcas in the Cape Cod, Massachusetts area this season. CBS also shared these killer whales have been making their presence known around the world lately. One boat captain told CBS that he’d had encounters with the whales in the Canary Islands and in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Whale Watching Cape Cod
Though you’re not likely to see dolphins swimming along with an Orca whale, there are numerous whale-watching options on Cape Cod. In fact, the island is well known for its whale-watching tours.
U.S. News and World Report recently compiled a list of the top three whale-watching tours on the Cape. “From mid-April through October, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, plays host to several whale species, including humpback, pilot, and minke whales,” they explain. Hyannis, Barnstable, and Provincetown all offer whale watch tour experiences.
Massachusetts Lighthouse Named One Of The Most Beautiful In The World
What do Porto, Portugal, Crete, Greece, and Scituate, Massachusetts have in common? They all have historic lighthouses. In fact, in Trips To Discover’s recent guide, they named Old Scituate Light, along Massachusetts’ south shore one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The 1800’s
This landmark dates back to the year 1810. “Congress voted to build a lighthouse at the harbor, and the light made of split granite blocks with a house attached and was activated the following year (1811),” Trips To Discover explains. It was the 11th lighthouse in the United States upon completion. It cost $4,000. Shortly after, Captain Simeon Bates, his wife and nine children lived at the house. Bates was the first keep of this lighthouse.
“Because mariners complained that the light could not be seen from far enough away to make proper heading adjustments, the U.S. Government added fifteen feet in height to the tower in 1827, mortaring red brick on top of the granite blocks,” Scituate’s Historical Society explains.
The 1900’s
The town of Scituate acquired the lighthouse from the government in 1916 for $1,000. Fourteen years later, a new lantern room was built at the top. 1994 marked one of the most memorable events in Old Scituate Light’s history as it was relit, making it visible from the sea for the first time in 134 years. Three years prior, it had been relit to be seen on land only.
Present Day
Old Scituate Light is a very popular south shore attraction. Every day people can be seen taking pictures of this lighthouse. Select dates are released each year that detail when it will be open to the public. Walkways along the water’s edge surround it for guests to explore the area. One of this destination’s most notable elements is the attached cottage. That remains a private residence that is the lightkeeper’s cottage.
While many tourists travel to the south shore of Massachusetts for the beaches and boating, stopping by one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world is also a site worth seeing.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
