Whale Sightings - 2006

Yesterday, a humpback mother and calf hid off Breaksea Island, frustrating all stealth, and desires for a better opportunity for contact. Today, no whale sighting anywhere in the Sound....so we conclude that, consistent with the warmer weather and water temperature, the whales have returned to Antarctica.

I have really been thrilled by the wonderful opportunity this season has provided for interaction with these extraordinary creatures.  Thank you for the pleasure of the company of the many people who have been recommended to our tours.  Many of these people have sent us photographs of their trips and we are still in the process of bringing them up to date on our website gallery.  These generous people have agreed to make their copyright available for others' pleasure, so if you see any photos of which you would like a copy, please email us with your details and we would be delighted to email them to you.

No longer comfortable with offering Whale Watching tours, when the possibilities of success are rapidly diminishing, we are formally concluding our 2006 Whale Watching Tour season.  We will be continuing Coastal Wilderness Tours and Twilight Cruises of King George Sound and Princess Royal harbour through the summer.  We finished our season at 6.30 pm today with a beautiful spinnaker cruise into Princess Royal Harbour towards the setting sun.  Lovely!

Well, the equinoctial gales have reminded our Southern Right whales of home.  Four days ago they left and now...not a sign...but, by a wonderful coincidence, the humpbacks have visited on their way back south.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Tony found two humpbacks, resting off Limestone Head.  No view from shore....but great viewing from Sailaway.

We go exploring along the lee shores every day.  I'll let you know how we go.

A wide range of whale sizes and ages has been in Middleton Beach Bay for many weeks now....but for the last few days, we at Albany Whale Tours, haven't seen a sign of the 'mid' sized whales.  We call them adolescents or yearlings and for weeks they have been forming loose associations of pods.  Up to five or seven animals would come together - then separate - but always staying in loose proximity.

The adolescents were quite active and we really enjoyed them....but not a sign since the start of the easterlies.

The Southern Right mothers and calves are still delighting land and sea watchers.  The mothers' care is heart-warming and the calves leaps and rolls, thrilling, as we watch them practice.

Long may they stay!!!

I have found it hard to describe our recent whale tours.  The wilderness interactions have been difficult to translate adequately.

Now familiar with our boat, the whales privilege us with amazing experiences along the bay at Middleton Beach.  Yesterday, a calf rolled over beside Sail-A-Way, revealing a splotched new white belly - in the middle, a healing umbilical cord; the mother....unconcerned, lolled quiescent.

Today we were again delayed in one place...motors off...as five whales took turns rising at the feet our bow passengers, drifting sternwards alongside, then swirling round the stern to drive forward along the other hull..... all guests silent and contemplative.

A week ago, a passenger spoke of how, in Hervey Bay, some whale operators encourage noise amongst their passengers, saying "it encourages the whale's curiosity..."  but on Albany Whale Tours we encourage very moderate participation (as much for respect of other passengers wilderness experience as for the whales).

The results astonish me.  Whales visit our boat in large numbers, almost every day.  In the silence we can listen for their calls...Occasionally, if appropriate, when the interest has been long-standing, we respond with chord progressions strummed on an acoustic guitar.  The response by whales and humans is very moving.

One whale rubbed the front of its face gently against our hull, from stern to bow - full length, before repeating it.....all the time, the hull vibrated with the guitar's chords.

There is a new awareness we ask all our passengers to take with them.....it is that they be very alert to the possibility of a whale appearing unexpectedly on a collision course with our vessel.  For the first time in my whale watching career, moving to port to avoid a starboard whale cannot be taken as a safe option.  Whales everywhere.  Two days ago, we were telephoned from a plane to be told that avoiding the whale to port and the whale to starboard we had travelled across two other whales that surfaced behind us. Unharmed, but still not something one would choose to do.

Each day we are likely to see mating behaviour, pod interactions of courting and assembly involving 5 or 6 whales at a time.  Last week, three new calves, probably born that week; day after day whales showing feeding behaviour where they move across the surface of the water, mouth open, "balleening", completely uninterested in the boat or its passengers.  When one whale calls, there is an immediate response from at least one other whale within a 400 metre vicinity.

Is this happening in other coastal areas of southern Australia?  Albany is establishing a remarkable record as a whale study opportunity this season..... time and again, my guests tell me they are advised not to come to Albany as a whale watching venue as it has no credible history of successful whale watching.

How wrong they are!!!

A roar, for which 40 years of wilderness guiding had not prepared me.  A stunning, chilling, breathtaking noise of animal power.

The day started sultry; 31 people seeking wilderness interaction with Southern Rights, one of the world's great whales.  The west wind blew us silently past whale after whale, each silently sounding as we passed.  Three kayaks came close and we shared biscuits, chatting... as they talked of 6 or 7 whales that approached them as they drifted near Skippy Reef.

Seeing whales rolling and flopping, we approached...motors still, we drifted.  7 whales - many very large, approached the still boat.  The whales rolled over each other, mounted each other 'T'-boned each other...while their calls got louder and louder.  More and more congregated round.  Swirling water all around 'Sail-A-Way', ....then a shuddering bump...gasps of shock...another bump, then another - then a whale, whose tail spanned our beam, lifted the front of our 7-ton boat - splashing it bodily two metres to starboard!  Boat rocking...another bump...then a stupendous roar of power from a surfacing whale twenty metres away!

Slowly, the active group drifted away.  Some whales lying in postures of submission....on their backs, fins up...other large whales rolled against them...over them.

Wilderness is not a walk in the park......

Over 15 whales we met today...some in pods, some alone.... some breaching, some in postures of feeding - mouth open wide, baleen showing.

I told my guests..."This is not ordinary".    Life has its gifts!

What a beautiful sunshiny day.  Off Griffiths Street, Middleton Beach there were four Southern Rights in social exchange, close to shore - close to each other - very roly poly...lie on back...flop over.....

Circling the mob, one outcast, maintaining 50 metres in clearance but never joining the others.  On shore a crowd of people gathered.  To our boat's left a Southern Right mother and calf keeping a 150 metre distance from the others.  We stayed motionless, as did the whales.

Having a guitar on board, I thought I'd try music with the oceanic songsters.  They did come very close to our boat and often raised their heads....coincidence...too early to tell. 

Heading back to Princess Royal Harbour and the channel we were delayed by a mother leaping in breaches.  Again and again....heart in mouth....we watched tugs pulling a wheat grain ship right past the mother and calf as they logged in the channel - no harm.  Relieved, we left them all to it...just another day at the factory!

This season's sightings are the most Southern Rights I have seen in Albany waters in the last 30 years.  Today we viewed seven or eight, morning and afternoon, and there are another six just off the breakers at Nanarup (thanks to Mr Tysoe for his generous calls about the whales whereabouts).

Another gentleman came to our boat, mid-Sound....pulling alongside he called of some humpback sightings before racing away to go back to his fishing.

The 29 guests on Sail-A-Way felt very considered....we found those humpbacks...and more guests leave Albany talking well of it as a tourist destination.

We drifted in emerald shallows along golden Goode Beach.  One guest turned to the rest to say 'we are moving in a postcard'.

In two 3-hour cruises today, Saturday 5th August, we took 65 people to view 14 Southern Right whales, (adolescents and calves)...5 humpbacks...dolphins and seals.  Near Skippy Reef, a first in my life...a seal torpedoeing over and round a Southern Right adolescent which was rolling upsidedown in the calm water.  Near Mistaken Island, dolphins played near humpback whales on our port side while on our starboard, a Southern Right swam purposefully in the direction of Middleton Beach.  Amazing!!

This week, a visitor walking down any beach, has opportunity for extraordinary whale sightings in this warm winter weather.

Lately we have been slow to comment on whales in King George Sound:  it is because there hasn't been much change.  The whales are holding position, but today a change and a very funny sight.

We came upon the Southern Right mother and calf that are living off Middleton Beach.  The mother routinely dived as we came within 300 metres and routinely stayed a dark shadow on the bottom of the ocean - visible as a discernible whale shadow.  She stayed there for at least half an hour, moving over the bottom under and past our boat, as, routinely, the calf, taking a breath every five minutes or so, came to mooch around our boat, before routinely, joining its mother 100 metres from us.

Then....the routine changed.  The mother surfaced; a seagull hovered and landed on her back.....snap! snap! photographs.  She dived; the seagull hovered again...she surfaced...the seagull landed again on her back.

Suddenly, a huge jet of breath and sound and a thoroughly showered and shocked seagull...for all intents an exasperated swat at a blowfly!

Good video footage captured, we hope, by one of our guests.  Maybe we will receive a copy!

The calmer waters of Middleton Beach were attractive to four Southern Rights today - 1 large, 2 adolescents and one small calf.  By afternoon they had moved from the golf club shore to the Mt Martin side.

In the centre of the Sound, three Humpback whales were diving for long periods - not going anywhere, but spending a long time under water.  Then a bonus: the Southern Right cow and calf which have been around since the calf was born,  in June, were back sheltering in the same place - Goode Beach. 

Hopefully, more of the same tomorrow, Sunday.

Wow! Wind, waves and wild, wild weather - No trips today (Thursday) and not again Friday I'll be bound.  We spent the morning re-splicing and locating heavy mooring lines - stay safe, boat - ready for Saturday morning.

But for you - invigorating beach-side walking.  Whales everywhere.  There is a mother and calf breaching and breaching near the wharf, on their way to West Wharf Beacon west end of Princess Royal Harbour.  Then off Middleton Beach, another mother and calf Southern Right, while off Goode Beach, another four fabulous Southern Rights (thanks, Elsie Wilson for your call).

I did some more research and found they grow to a maximum of 80 tonnes!  Can you imagine; that is 80 Holden motor cars driven underwater at 12 kms per hour by a single tail and body of muscle! 

A new respect.....as I often say to my guests "we will assume they are either empathetic, compassionate or at least non-aggressive".

PS  I once had a close encounter with a sleeping, submerged Southern Right off Middleton Beach....I am no longer surprised at the huge amount of whale excreta that stained the water and the side of the boat....and what a smell!!

Yellow today for the glorious sunshine!  Tony and David were the 'searchers' yesterday and today - the whales were the 'searchees', and what a beautiful day the sound has provided.

Middleton Beach is a picture at the moment - Albany's lovely suburbs lining hills green with all the rain and sunshine; sparkly clean.

The Southern Right whales think so too.  Tuesday, the mother and calf were logging along; Today three adolescent Southern Rights, just off the golf links, quietly ruminating, oblivious of the boat, but as yet, no sign of the resident mother today.

Have you seen the 'whale puppy' photo in our Gallery on this website?  I think it is the most remarkable photo of whale behaviour I have seen.

Winds on King George Sound were gusty today - building a low chop which was most severe on the Whale World side.

In the morning, a Southern Right mother and calf were sheltering in the calm water between Mistaken Island and Goode Beach where the waves were low.  Further out, by Limestone Head, a half-grown Southern Right was standing on its head with its tail being bashed by the chop - it played around our boat for a while, then came right alongside Sail-A-Way and rolled on its back.  Holding its flippers loosely to its chest, it stayed upside down, close to our boat, for about five minutes.  My guests described it as the 'behaviour of a puppy'.**..we were moved to scratch its belly, but of course, could not and did not.

That afternoon, we also found a Southern Right at Middleton Beach, where the water was calm right  across to Gull Rock.

Monday is forecast as being too uncomfortable for water exploration although we will be at the boat in the morning, just in case.  For beach-side whale watching, Middleton Beach near Griffiths Street, and Goode Beach would make the best vantage points.

**See photo on Gallery page of website

Saturday, a day between storms - choppy waves all over the Sound except for one thin half-moon along Vancouver Peninsula's southern shore.  After low-energy boat-motion on leaden waters, a still haven - Limestone Head.

A whale nursery beneath near vertical, aged yellow rock walls.  Southern Right mothers know a haven too.  Three took their weeks-old calves to separate places in the haven.  Near the nursery, two adolescents seemed to be courting (whales, that is).  One rolled and rolled on her back, slapping the water with fins while the other nudged and nuzzled....black tail fins weaving and flopping above the water: a complete disregard of us.

Best of all is this.  Two pairs of very young children sitting on our boat's white roof - the kids' courtyard - facing each other in a square.  No common language, but one held out a jib rope; another held the other end and a third placed her plastic lizard clinging to the held rope.  They swayed it gently and smiled.

Their parents watched the whales....I watched their kids...we all felt richer.

The Southern Right mother and calf have moved from the west end of Princess Royal Harbour back to the rocks separating Whale World Beach from Frenchman Bay Beach i.e. the south west region of the Sound.  Forecast for Thursday evening???....strong winds from the south west.  Once again she has anticipated the weather by a day and found a calm water haven in what could be quite a maelstrom.

We couldn't find the other two mothers and calves today - perhaps they too have found storm shelter, possibly behind the islands.

Near the Ataturk Channel there was a humpback, and in the centre of the Sound, one lonely adolescent Southern Right adopted our boat for quite a while, circling us and lying beneath our guests' feet.

Tuesday today, 2nd week of the school holidays - every day preceding has been all but 'full boat', so life has been hectic.

Southern Right whales are moving into the sound in very large numbers.  Yesterday we saw 4, today we saw 6.  The whales are first spotted in groups - one day there were 8 !!....then numbers diminish and a few days later we sight clusters of mothers with small calves.  The 'hot spots' at the moment are between Gull Rock and Ledge Beach - two mothers and two calves yesterday and today, and of course, the mother and calf at the western end of Princess Royal Harbour (viewed today heading purposefully towards the channel).

The mothers are close to shore and the active, inexperienced young calves very visible from nearby shore spots.  We often see the mothers 'piggy-backing' the playing calves - delightful!  What a great year!!

I just love choosing colours for these entries.  It is fun. 

Today we saw 4 Southern Right whales enter the Sound.  They seem to travel in groups - company, I guess.

Explosion!!!  The mother breached again and again, centre Harbour.  Seeing our vessel she torpedoed towards us - 15 metres abeam - a huge leap 5 metres vertically - an explosive landing, white-washed waves rock the boat.  Again and again.  Later in the day on our return - sunlit harbour - sparkling water and then - explosive leaping by mother and baby, again and again.

Was she teaching the calf?

Joy for us all!

The Southern Right mother and calf have moved into Princess Royal Harbour and given us on Sail-A-Way a more extraordinary adventure.  The mother has become increasingly relaxed about the boat's presence. 

 A most unbelievable event occurred today.  We sat still, motors off, 100 metres from the mother.  She lifted her head to see us. Then she used her head to cut off the calf's path and forced it towards our boat.  When 15 metres from us she put her head beneath the calf and lifted it clear of the water in front of the 14 startled passengers' gaze.  I asked them what they interpreted.  They all believed she was showing them her calf!

We have not been able to go out the past couple of days due to the stormy and rough conditions.  Today, the weather is fine.  We had a full boat in the morning and 1/3 full in the afternoon.  conditions were bumpy in the Sound, but should be calm tomorrow.

The very smart Southern Right mother has moved her calf to central Princess Royal Harbour.  We visited the calf twice today - he/she is getting very curious and lively.  It came right up close to our boat today, and even mother is drifting closer to visit, albeit from 50m away.

In the Sound are three more Humpbacks, close to Limestone Head (near Whale World).  All welcome sights!

Our guests say Tony - today's skipper - was great.  My turn tomorrow.

This morning we left the jetty with a full load of eager whale watchers.  The weather became increasingly more energetic while we roamed over the Sound, looking for our friendly whales - no luck.  Finally, after a phone call from a friend whose home overlooks the harbour, we located the Southern Right mother and calf heading over to the shore below the old wool stores, seeking a safe spot (actually inside Princess Royal Harbour) to wait out the approaching storm.  Sensible creatures.  We watched, then left them there, (in what looked like about 3 metre depth of water) to scurry back to the jetty to get out of the wind, cold and rain.

All passengers aboard were given free return vouchers as reward for their stoic tolerance of the stormy conditions.

Gale warnings abound, so Sail-A-Way will not be going out tomorrow.  We hope to be back on board on Tuesday.

It is 11.30 am and Sail-A-Way is way, way out near Nanarup Beach, watching a Humpback perform its gravity-defying aerial acrobatics.

It appears that the Southern Right mother and calf have either left the Sound, or it is feared that they may be entangled in ropes or nets.  There is an aerial search being carried out for them at the moment.  We have loved seeing them here for so long, and hope and pray that they have left (sad though that is) and that the reason for their non-appearance is not the latter.

Albany is still being blessed with the presence of the Southern Right mother and calf.  She has, however, had to move her precious baby to outer Brambles Beach (near Camp Quaranup) with the rather boisterous arraival, on Tuesday, of a pod of Humpbacks.  I have personally seen, this year,  the Southern Rights slapping out at Humpback aggression.  Magnificent viewing from the walk that leaves near camp Quaranup.

Congratulations to the water-going members of Albany who treat these wonderful visitors in such a way that does not frighten them off.

You may get a chance to try this little "chat with a dolphin" trick.  A couple of days ago, a guest on board who had worked with dolphins, was standing at the front of our boat, clapping repeatedly with flat hands to make a percussive, loud series of clicking slaps, as dolphins appeared off our bow.  This really attracted their attention and they stayed near the surface and near the clapping person.  For the next two days we all repeated this dolphin greeting....and they rerpeated their responses - Communication!  Neat!

You've read about the two Southern Rights off Middleton Beach.  Further towards Michelmas Island we were startled by two Humpbacks and a calf appearing suddenly.  We turned off our motors and the whales took refuge around and underneath our boat as bottlenosed dolphins harassed them!  There was much chasing, slapping and high energy activity with tails and fins producing surface turmoil.

The commotion startled the pilchards and Southern Gannets torpedoed down around the boat after a feed.  A southern Shearwater joined the feast.  Amazing!!

"Sail-A-Way" was in the company of the resident mother and calf Southern Right twice yesterday.  We recognise the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment for her, so all our visits are 'tip-toe' - it is amazing how quiet and respectful our wonderful companions are, who come to ride on our boat.  I really enjoy being with people who seek wilderness for pleasure and comfort. 

Land walkers should be able to see the whales from the beach between Emu Point and Middleton Beach. ** I think they will be close to shore.  the walkers will have beautiful off-shore breezes in which to watch glassy ripples and sea birds battling tumult.

**See photo of mother and calf in Gallery of this website

Once again the Southern Right mother and calf, which have been in albany waters for over a week, thrilled guests aboard "Sail-A-Way".

The whales were seen 250 metres from shore between Emu Point and Middleton Beach, and would have been easily viewed by anyone standing on the dunes or on the beach.

The mother seemed very calm as the cameras clicked and the boat mooched past, keeping a considerate distance from these impressive creatures.

"Sail-A-Way" sailed away today with a very full boatload of guests.  Is it a coincidence??.....once more we had small children on board and dolphins shooting out of the water to catch up with and entertain us.  The eight young people were, of course, thrilled.

In absolute silence, we sat at Emu Point channel entrance, in company with the Southern Right calf and mother.  This time the mother allowed the baby to swim to our boat, and it frolicked around us for about seven or eight minutes before the mother shepherded it away.  Enchanting!

the Southern Right mother and calf are continuing to enthrall the visitors aboard "Sail-A-Way".  Off Middleton Beach, from aboard the vessel, our guests revelled in the hear-touching sight of mother and baby frolicking in the waves, totally unconcerned by the boat-load of entranced people, bobbing quietly a short distance away.

Another amazing Albany day, sparkling blue waters, gentle breezes and the intangible yet real cross-species connection.

These gentle giants are easily visible from shore - just walk along the beach or sand dunes between Middleton Beach and Emu Point.

Clear skies and a 5 knot easterly.  One Humpback sighted off Mistaken Island. Many dolphins performed today and once again, the touching sight of the Southern Right mother and calf near Goode Beach, with the calf lying at right angles to the mother, being suckled. 

A resident of Goode Beach telephoned to say she had actually witnessed the birth of the calf a day or so before. 

This is such a beautiful place when the whales visit!

There have been whales cruising around King George sound almost every day since the 2nd June, but they have been rather elusive.  Today was different!

Clouds and a light drizzle didn't promise what was to come on the Sound today.  Twelve people quietly talking on 'Sail-A-Way' as she motored across the leaden chop of Princess royal Harbour.  They had been told of the humpbacks' migratory behavious and there was a sense of ...."seeing such leaping and play would be too good to be true"....

As we entered King George Sound, the sight of whales broaching was starkly visible against the blue of the waves.  Three humpbacks ignored 'Sail-A-Way' as they played.  Twenty tons or so of animal so airborne....their entire bodies crashing back in an explosion of white!

Later the whales stopped playing and began circling.....round and round the boat, three metres from the amazed watchers.  Gliding amongst the whales were bottle-nose dolphins - drifting - at ease with their giant cousins.

The wind eased......sunshine between the showers.....everybody smiling...but very quiet.

We have been busy refitting, anti-fouling and generally sprucing up the vessel in readiness for the 2006 whale season.  It has taken a great deal of time and effort but we are nearly ready.  Actually we had a bit of a panic when we heard that 4 humpback whales were seen in the sound a few days ago.  Much too early!  It spurred us into even faster action! 

Whale season begins for us on the 1st June.  We hope to see you aboard soon.