Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing with open blow holes visible. Reykjavik, Iceland.

Young Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing. Thin body. Hebrides, Scotland.

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with characteristic chevron markings and dorsal fin visible. Hebrides, Scotland.

Blue whale (Balaenoptera muscularis) surfacing to breath. Aerial photograph. Husavik, Iceland

Blue whale (Balaenoptera muscularis) showing characteristic column of spray as it breaths. Aerial photograph. Husavik, Iceland

Aerial shot of the research yacht, The Song of the Whale, being investigated by a Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), while one of the crew tries to get a closer look fro

Upper and lower jaw bones (+ one rib) of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at an old whaling station. Snaefellsness Peninsular, Iceland.

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) with vapour from recent blow. Large splash guard visible around open blow holes Monterey, USA

The Indian summer colours the tree line along the coast indicating the oncoming winter. A sign that Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) should start their migration south to unknown waters. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada

Amazing close-up of a lunging Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) feeding on krill. Some of these small euphausiids are still hanging on to the expanded grooves. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing in the green coloured water. Although exposed, she still has both blowholes tightly closed. Note the pronounced ridge on the rostrum, a main feature of rorqual whales. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada Sequenc

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Iceland.