Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) lunge feeding showing throat grooves, Iceland

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) lunge feeding at surface showing throat grooves, Husavik, Iceland

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) showing the chevron markings on its flanks. Bay of Biscay, SW Europe.

Fin whale fluke print, or 'foot print', caused by the powerful up stroke of a whale's tail while it is still near the surface (Balaenoptera physalus). Bay of Biscay, SW

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) with water vapour from blow and blow hole visible. Bay of Biscay, SW Europe.

Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing. Gulf of Maine, USA (rr)

Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing. Gulf of Maine, USA (rr)

Adult Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing in the lower Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Aerial view of Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing. Gulf of Maine, USA (rr)

Brydes whale (Balaenoptera edeni) lunge feeding Brydes whale. Gulf of California.

Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) dorsal fin. Azores

Illustration of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) showing characteristic markings on side

Adult fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) sub-surface feeding (head detail) in the rich waters off the continental shelf just south of Bear Island in the Barents Sea, Norway.

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)Two different species of whale travelling together. Gulf of California

Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acuturostrata) feeding alongside assorted seabirds Isle of Mull, Western Scotland

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) lunge feeding at surface showing pink throat grooves. Olafsvik Iceland

Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus) might be seen alone or in pairs but often form groups of more than a dozen animals in order to hunt fish. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada (rr)

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge feeding