Dead Whale @ Miranda

[Grahame]

There is a dead whale at Miranda. I'm afraid the species is unknown as only part can be seen because it is on the seaward side of the shingle bank. DOC has been informed.

Dead Whale

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[Mig]

Any updates on this please? Could you guesstimante how large?

[Grahame]

Rather difficult to judge I'm afraid. When the tide rose a little higher more kept popping up to the right of the fin and was about two thirds the length of the part to the left. Here is another photo that may help. I estimate that the height of the bank at this point would be about 50cm

[Mig]

Thanks, ive shared with my whaley friends. Was the photo taken from the hide? so say 300 metres away? But one expert tells me what it isnt by its pec. not a humpy or minkie or SRW or Blue.

[JFDillon]

May be going there tomorrow will update.

[Grahame]

Yep Mig, it was taken from the hide. Please also note that it was about high tide, (4.3m), hence the low height of the shingle bank. Thanks J F D, I would appreciate that.

[Bennyboy87654]

Could be a rare Beaked Whale they are known around to be around NZ, they arent very big and they are normally only encountered when washed up.

[gillianv]

It is indeed some sort of beaked whale. The team at the centre think it probably washed in already dead, it's not in great condition. It's been reported appropriately and I'll update if we can get an id to species.

[David Riddell]

Beaked whales aren't too hard to identify, as long as you can see teeth in their jaws, though females and juveniles may lack these. The Smithsonian has a good identification guide, including a key - http://vertebrates.si.edu/mammals/beake ... n_menu.htm

[Grahame]

The Beaked Whale was seen early last week behaving strange off Kaiaua. It was washed up at Miranda dead either Wednesday night or before 0800 Thursday morning. Two people from DoC went out to it today, but not sure what they are going to do.