Dolphins and whales at Cape Solander

[khiemtran]

It's a great day for whale-watching at Cape Solander, as the migrating humpbacks put on a show...



We saw two pods go by, quite close to the shore.



Lots of tail-slapping and breaching, especially from the smaller ones.



One was flicking its tail extra often. As you can see here, the tail fins are actually red. Perhaps it has a rash or some sort of injury.



A number of fishing boats had even better views than we did.







One of the humpbacks doing a fin wave...



A good view of a humpback tail.



After those two pods went past, we were lucky enough to spot a third pod, this time of dolphins.



The dolphins passed right below the cliffs and gave us a great view as they went by. All-in-all, a magical morning.

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

So majestic!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

I think that was the best day whale-watching we've ever had. It was nice to finally be able to get some breaching shots (albeit out of focus) and the dolphins up close were a real bonus...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Wow! That first shot is a real breach! So lucky! And the others are awesome as well (I alway like seeing dolphins, too)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, we saw two full breaches, which were both amazing to watch. It was incredible to able to see such a huge animal completely out of the water.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Cool. I've never seen a marine animal in the wild larger than a seal!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

There is actually a fur seal reputed to live at the base of the cliffs there, but I haven't seen it yet. I did see something with a promisingly seal-like silhouette, but it turned out to be a piece of sea-worn rock. Unless, of course, it was a rock seal, in the process of being formed...