Well folks the end is neigh. After having some great interaction with whales this season it seams that the end is close. Today we did not find any Southern Right Whales, but we did find 4 Humpbacks as they make their way home to Antarctica. Here are some of the pictures we caught this season.

How Many Whales.

Just a quick note to let you know we are seeing heaps of whales and I just have not had the time to put it all down on paper.

8 Whales Today

We head out of Princess Royal Harbour it's clear but showers have been forecast. Bernie's radio call tells us that several whales are travelling between the safe water marker and the end channel marker. We find 2 humpbacks but as we get close we spot huge splashes further east. The question is "should we stay or should we go" Well we go and as we get closer the breaching stops. However when we get closer we are greeted by 2 adults and one calf. We watch these whales for nearly 1 hour. As the rain showers cover the Sound we head back towards the marina. The whales we first saw were last seen just off Emu Beach so we hope that we will find them on the way home. As  I talk to the local dive boat, as they are coming through the passage at Mistaken Island, I spot 1 whale heading past the safe water marker we stick with it for a little, but it is travelling fast so we let it go. Now heading home, a call from the dive vessel we have asked to look out for whales comes in.  There is a whale heading in to Princess Royal Harbour. We find a juvenile cruising towards the wood chip berth as the rain shower clears. We follow it until we get very close to the marina and then head back to our berth. Neither of these whales are the ones we spotted at the start of our cruise. Where could they be? 

So its 8 whales for the day. 

Whale Watching Luncheon

 Today we had the pleasure of Community Care for a whale watching luncheon. Leaving the jetty a little later than normally we headed out to Limestone Head. Found 3 whales and followed them until they headed around Bald Head. We headed towards Breaksea Island to check out some New Zealand Fur seals. Then headed towards Nanarup to enjoy lunch. As I scanned the horizon a huge splash could mean only one thing. I put it to our passengers that if we went to investigate, our lunch may be a little later than first planed. The vote came back in the affirmative to investigate and this is what greeted us.

I Love My Job !!!!

 What can I say. The weather is amazing the whales are friendly and I get to show people.

 I LOVE MY JOB

A calf playing today.

Humpback Cow & Calf

For the past 4 days we have found this Humpback Calf with his mother in King George Sound.
Friday we also found 4 Southern Right Whales half way between Limestone Head and Bald Head. We had heard there were 4 Southern Rights at Two Peoples Bay the previous Monday. Saturday after watching the cow and calf, we found 5 humpbacks in 2 pods. Sunday we watched mother and calf and then found 3 humpbacks just a little further east. Sunday afternoon we found them again. With 3 more humpbacks out a little once again. In the time we have watched the mother and calf we have seen the cow breach several times. I have never seen a cow with such a young calf breach ever before. We are told that until a humpback calf is about 14 days old their dorsal fin will be bent over.  As you can see from the picture this calf fits that description.

Bad Weather / Consciences Skipper

I'm in my office its 9.10 am and the weather is not nice. I have contacted all those who have bookings for us today and told them we will not be cruising. All understand and are pleased that I have contacted them. Most can come tomorrow when the weather is forecast to be much, much, better. Yesterday the weather had not quite set in at 9 am but knowing that it was not far away I informed passengers that we would not be travelling. One group of three could not say in town until Friday as they had to be in Augusta. They asked if the whales had been seen there. I have not spoken to Paul at "Naturalist Charters"  for a while so took the opportunity to phone him to see how he is going. Yep heaps of whales but a little sick of the weather was his response.

The charter boat next to us did cruise and some asked why. I read on their board today "Wild, wild wonderful weather and our passengers had a ball. All return free." I ask you how you can enjoy a boat cruise with very strong winds and heavy rain.

I have been doing this a long time now and I do not know any one who enjoys seasickness. I do not cancel cruises, for no reason. But I refuse to cruise just to get your money. This at times costs me but I would rather people left town saying the weather stopped them seeing a whale than being angry with me for taking them out in horrendous weather conditions.