On the Humpback Highway...

[khiemtran]

The northbound humpback migration ended last month, but the southern migration has already begun. Today, we took a whale-watching cruise to catch the humpbacks on their way back past Sydney.



The weather was good, but, just as last year, there was a considerable swell once we got past the heads and out onto the open ocean...



Fortunately, it didn't take long before we found some whales...







All the rival whale-watching boats formed up in a little flotilla, to follow a pair of young males heading south.



Showing off a pectoral fin...



And doing a move known as a peduncle throw...





And an accidental shark imitation...



The advantage of the boat is that you can get much closer than you (usually) can from the shore.



This shot gives an idea of just how big these creatures are.

Comments

[marina-bonomi.livejournal.com]

Wow, just wow.

Thank you for sharing!

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Seconded!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I think I might have to retire from whale photography now, because it's going to be very hard to top that first one...

[marina-bonomi.livejournal.com]

>I think I might have to retire from whale photography now,<

Don't you dare!

Pretty please...?

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Wonderful pictures!

But looking at that swell, I wouldn't have swapped places with you!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It wasn't so bad if you were outside, but lots of people got sick inside, including both Hsiu Lin and Liem, unfortunately. They were very glad when we made it back inside the harbour.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The whale ballet teacher tells them, "You'll have a whole flotilla watching, so make sure you practice!"

That one whale's white tail is really eye-catching.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

They certainly put on a great show!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

So lovely! We went on a boat for whale watching once in Mayotte, but the cow we sighted had a calf and wasn't in to showing off. Not so for your gorgeous critters. Thanks for sharing.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

We got some pretty good views from the cliffs this year, but there's really no substitute for being up close in a boat. Plus, this pair really put on a show for us...