How to see whales from shore on Cape Cod: Luck and pluck can pay off, big-time

PROVINCETOWN — Seeing whales from shore is fantastic and free, but you've got to be lucky and perhaps a bit plucky. On the plus side, "it is the time of year," said Charles "Stormy" Mayo, a senior scientist and whale expert at the Center for Coastal Studies.

There is no guarantee that whales will appear on any given day, but it is a recurring and delightful phenomenon in the spring, with a "wow" factor that is off the charts. Mayo suggests trying out Race Point Beach in Provincetown, where a splashy show might be going on right in front of you.

And while Race Point Beach can be a hotspot to observe whale activity, Mayo said the area around Race Point Light is perhaps the best spot of all. That's where pluck and a little shoe leather come in. The lighthouse can be reached by making a somewhat significant trek: a 4-mile round trip from Race Point Beach.

"It's a longish walk on sand," cautioned Mayo.

It is possible to see a variety of cetaceans this time of year, both with the naked eye, or enhanced with a camera lens or set of binoculars. Rare right whales are now in the general vicinity, including mothers and calves, but other leviathans — including humpback, minke and fin whales — can also be seen on the right day.

Mayo said whale watch boats are prohibited from getting near endangered right whales, so the shore view of right whales is "probably the best on the East Coast."

Naturalist Peter Flood, a Dennis resident, said he has made the walk out to Race Point Light hundreds of times over the past 20 years. While he is mainly interested in birds, he joked that "you can't help but notice the whales."

Flood also said the area right off Race Point Light is the place to be for whale sightings. "It seems to be some sort of gateway," he said. "The deep water comes so close to shore."

When asked if there was a way to predict when whales might appear, perhaps by using tides, weather or time of day, both Flood and Mayo said there didn't seem to be a connection. Being out there frequently seems to be the only way to shorten the whale-sighting odds.

"It's a real lesson in patience and perseverance," said Flood, who added that he sometimes checks whalemap.org to see the latest right whale observations.

If you are lucky enough to get an eyeful of whales, you may wonder what they are up to. According to Mayo, if you see lots of heads and flippers, there may be some socializing going on.

If the whales seem to be moving along, with backs and tails in view, they are likely entering or exiting Cape Cod Bay. And if whale heads are out of the water for minutes at a time, it's probably feeding time.

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Even if a whale hike to Race Point Light doesn't yield any sightings, you might still come across a snowy owl or see some cool pelagic birds. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"I would go out there with a sandwich and bring my camera and wait to see what swims by," said Mayo.

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For folks who might want to give this a try and would prefer some expert guidance, the Center for Coastal Studies has three Whale Walks coming up to help celebrate Earth Day. Staff members will lead walks to Race Point, Wood End and Herring Cove at 10 a.m. on April 22, 1 p.m. on April 26 and 1 p.m. on April 28. Registration is required and there is a suggested donation of $10 ($5 for Center for Coastal Studies members).

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Whale watch from shore on Cape Cod: where, how to see whales