Tuesday 23 July 2013
Monday 15 July 2013
Heaps of Humpbacks
Sorry Folks
I have been a bit slack at keeping the blog page up to date.
We have found whales every cruise which is expected at this time of year.
Today with strong NW winds we travelled out through the centre of King George Sound and found a lone whale heading north toward a ship that is at anchor, but we did not stop for a look as we could see blows a little further out to sea.
We continue and find a humpback cow and a very young calf. We are told that if the dorsal fin is still bent over then the baby is less than 10 days old.
We stay with these whales enjoying morning tea. While we are watching mum and baby I see blows over towards Herald Reef and the blows are low so I think there may be some Southern Rights heading towards Nanarup Beach.
As we head in that direction we come across the lone whale we saw earlier, we follow for a little while then continue on, to confirm if these whales a couple of km away are in fact are Southern Rights.
As we get closer it becomes apparent that we have found 6 humpbacks charging around, not quite sure which way they are supposed to be going. We stay with these guys as the gods are shining on us today. I was worried about the strong winds forecast and we have found whales in sheltered waters.
We are about 45 minutes from home so we head in that direction at about 1130 hours. We head over to the coast and I get some help from all the children and "Harry Hamster" on board to bring us home before the storm reaches Albany.
I have been a bit slack at keeping the blog page up to date.
We have found whales every cruise which is expected at this time of year.
Today with strong NW winds we travelled out through the centre of King George Sound and found a lone whale heading north toward a ship that is at anchor, but we did not stop for a look as we could see blows a little further out to sea.
We continue and find a humpback cow and a very young calf. We are told that if the dorsal fin is still bent over then the baby is less than 10 days old.
We stay with these whales enjoying morning tea. While we are watching mum and baby I see blows over towards Herald Reef and the blows are low so I think there may be some Southern Rights heading towards Nanarup Beach.
As we head in that direction we come across the lone whale we saw earlier, we follow for a little while then continue on, to confirm if these whales a couple of km away are in fact are Southern Rights.
As we get closer it becomes apparent that we have found 6 humpbacks charging around, not quite sure which way they are supposed to be going. We stay with these guys as the gods are shining on us today. I was worried about the strong winds forecast and we have found whales in sheltered waters.
We are about 45 minutes from home so we head in that direction at about 1130 hours. We head over to the coast and I get some help from all the children and "Harry Hamster" on board to bring us home before the storm reaches Albany.
Monday 8 July 2013
Great Day
We head from the marina with light winds and Bernie tells me that there are whales south east of a ship at anchor in King George Sound.
Karina Mitchell is crew today and looking forward to helping out for a couple of days.
Karina arranges some morning tea after we found and spent some time, with a large pod of Common Dolphins.
As we continue to where we expect to find some whales I spot a blow off to starboard, about 600 metres away. We find 2 young humpbacks that are not moving too fast. So I knock the engines out of gear and with a little wind now we drift in the direction the whales were heading. They pop along side us and then dive. We continue to drift and the whales surface off to port, dive again and then off to starboard again. Now they are behind us, then next they surface very close to us. This continues for some time until they deicide they have had enough and start towards Bald Head. We follow slowly at times getting some great photos.
By the time we leave these whales we are close to the seal cove at Bald Head, so we drop into say hello.
We have seen several blows out deep but now the winds have increased so I would like to know that we are going to have a good viewing to head out where I am now seeing several whales breach.
In the area between Bald Head and Breaksea Island the water depth is around 45/50 metres and you are in the southern ocean. Whales can be very hard in the best weather conditions so with winds increasing from the north west we did not have the best conditions.
But the whales continue to breach and they are heading our way so I head out to meet them. Our arrival does not change the whales behaviour in any way. We have 2 whales breaching reasonably close and another several hundred metres further south. We follow and I would have loved to have had my camera out, but alas it was not to be as the sea was now quite choppy. Every body was amazed at the antics of the whales and I could hear the whirl of shutters around me. There are several other pods of whales around us some of these breaching or tail slapping. When the whales head out deep again we depart for home it is now 1145hours and it will take us about 30 minutes to get back to the marina. I warn those on the front deck that they will get wet if they stay there and give those on the fly-bridge with me time to head down stairs.
As we head back across King George Sound straight into the wind I spot breaches about half way across the sound. When we get to these whales they have finished their displays and now are heading towards Goode Beach. We get back to the marina at about 1230 hours. I cant wait to see some of the photos that were taken.
Karina Mitchell is crew today and looking forward to helping out for a couple of days.
Karina arranges some morning tea after we found and spent some time, with a large pod of Common Dolphins.
As we continue to where we expect to find some whales I spot a blow off to starboard, about 600 metres away. We find 2 young humpbacks that are not moving too fast. So I knock the engines out of gear and with a little wind now we drift in the direction the whales were heading. They pop along side us and then dive. We continue to drift and the whales surface off to port, dive again and then off to starboard again. Now they are behind us, then next they surface very close to us. This continues for some time until they deicide they have had enough and start towards Bald Head. We follow slowly at times getting some great photos.
By the time we leave these whales we are close to the seal cove at Bald Head, so we drop into say hello.
We have seen several blows out deep but now the winds have increased so I would like to know that we are going to have a good viewing to head out where I am now seeing several whales breach.
In the area between Bald Head and Breaksea Island the water depth is around 45/50 metres and you are in the southern ocean. Whales can be very hard in the best weather conditions so with winds increasing from the north west we did not have the best conditions.
But the whales continue to breach and they are heading our way so I head out to meet them. Our arrival does not change the whales behaviour in any way. We have 2 whales breaching reasonably close and another several hundred metres further south. We follow and I would have loved to have had my camera out, but alas it was not to be as the sea was now quite choppy. Every body was amazed at the antics of the whales and I could hear the whirl of shutters around me. There are several other pods of whales around us some of these breaching or tail slapping. When the whales head out deep again we depart for home it is now 1145hours and it will take us about 30 minutes to get back to the marina. I warn those on the front deck that they will get wet if they stay there and give those on the fly-bridge with me time to head down stairs.
As we head back across King George Sound straight into the wind I spot breaches about half way across the sound. When we get to these whales they have finished their displays and now are heading towards Goode Beach. We get back to the marina at about 1230 hours. I cant wait to see some of the photos that were taken.
Thursday 4 July 2013
Strong Winds
No cruise today as we have strong winds from the South West but they are forecast to subside tonight.
Wednesday 3rd.
The winds were forecast to strengthen so we head along Goode Beach as Bernie has told us that we have a quite whale some where in the area.
We find a very quiet whale just off Flat Rock. As it is just laying on the surface I start to wonder if it may be sick. It has some markings on its back and I try to get some photos. When the other charter boat arrives in the area the whale stirs, swims down the side of our boat and then turns and starts to make its way to Bald Head. We follow as the whale is cruising close to the coast. We leave as we get close to seal cove at Bald Head and go to check the seals.
As we make our way into the cove we spot 2 more humpbacks heading towards Bald Head. We have seen more blows east but the wind is strengthening so I am not sure we want to go too far from the shelter of the coast.
Then I see a breach about 800 metres away, then a second so we must go and investigate. As we get there we slow when we get close to the area with the motors out of gear and with anticipation we wait. Then just 50 Metres from the bow we have a whale burst from the water.
Some of our passengers get photos but we all see it. This whale dives and then swims south west so we leave and head home.
Now the rain is closing in so I am alone on the fly-bridge. We cruise back into King George Sound and in the distance I see several blows. We will keep an eye on them and hopefully they will continue on their current heading. The wind is now lifting spray over the boat so I change direction and head more into the wind so I don't get too wet and can watch these whales as they head in towards Goode Beach. We meet with them inshore of Seal Rock and as it is still raining most of the passengers choose to stay on the aft deck so as to stay dry and they are able to get some photos of 6 humpbacks cruising. We follow until they get very close to shore. They head north along the beach and as its on our way home we stick with them until they turn and head south back along the beach once again.
We head home and are met by a local professional fisherman in a small boat waiting at the channel entrance, as we enter the channel he follows us so we calm the water a little for him.
Tuesday 2nd.
2 Humpbacks @ Safe Water Marker,
2 Humpbacks cruise in towards Marine Drive,
3 Humpbacks cruising on the humpback highway.
More whales out deeper but no need to go out further.
Monday 1st.
1 humpback west of Michaelmas Island with tail out of water. Possible cow about to give birth.
2 Humpbacks cruising between Islands.
2 Humpbacks east of Breaksea Island.
3 Humpbacks travel towards Bald Head from east of Breaksea Island. More blows south of us as we follow the 3 above.
Sunday 30th June.
2 humpbacks swim around us for 1 hour in the middle of King George Sound.
1 Adult Humpback swims over Herald reef.
Saturday 29th.
1 quiet swims around us in King George Sound
1 Humpback swimming towards Bald Head from Middle of KGS.
6-8 Humpbacks cruising on the Humpbacks Highway. Lots of action.
Wednesday 3rd.
The winds were forecast to strengthen so we head along Goode Beach as Bernie has told us that we have a quite whale some where in the area.
We find a very quiet whale just off Flat Rock. As it is just laying on the surface I start to wonder if it may be sick. It has some markings on its back and I try to get some photos. When the other charter boat arrives in the area the whale stirs, swims down the side of our boat and then turns and starts to make its way to Bald Head. We follow as the whale is cruising close to the coast. We leave as we get close to seal cove at Bald Head and go to check the seals.
As we make our way into the cove we spot 2 more humpbacks heading towards Bald Head. We have seen more blows east but the wind is strengthening so I am not sure we want to go too far from the shelter of the coast.
Then I see a breach about 800 metres away, then a second so we must go and investigate. As we get there we slow when we get close to the area with the motors out of gear and with anticipation we wait. Then just 50 Metres from the bow we have a whale burst from the water.
Some of our passengers get photos but we all see it. This whale dives and then swims south west so we leave and head home.
Now the rain is closing in so I am alone on the fly-bridge. We cruise back into King George Sound and in the distance I see several blows. We will keep an eye on them and hopefully they will continue on their current heading. The wind is now lifting spray over the boat so I change direction and head more into the wind so I don't get too wet and can watch these whales as they head in towards Goode Beach. We meet with them inshore of Seal Rock and as it is still raining most of the passengers choose to stay on the aft deck so as to stay dry and they are able to get some photos of 6 humpbacks cruising. We follow until they get very close to shore. They head north along the beach and as its on our way home we stick with them until they turn and head south back along the beach once again.
We head home and are met by a local professional fisherman in a small boat waiting at the channel entrance, as we enter the channel he follows us so we calm the water a little for him.
Tuesday 2nd.
2 Humpbacks @ Safe Water Marker,
2 Humpbacks cruise in towards Marine Drive,
3 Humpbacks cruising on the humpback highway.
More whales out deeper but no need to go out further.
Monday 1st.
1 humpback west of Michaelmas Island with tail out of water. Possible cow about to give birth.
2 Humpbacks cruising between Islands.
2 Humpbacks east of Breaksea Island.
3 Humpbacks travel towards Bald Head from east of Breaksea Island. More blows south of us as we follow the 3 above.
Sunday 30th June.
2 humpbacks swim around us for 1 hour in the middle of King George Sound.
1 Adult Humpback swims over Herald reef.
Saturday 29th.
1 quiet swims around us in King George Sound
1 Humpback swimming towards Bald Head from Middle of KGS.
6-8 Humpbacks cruising on the Humpbacks Highway. Lots of action.
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