Cape Leeuwin overlooks Flinders Bay as thousands of Humpback and Southern Right Whales make their way into one of the most important parts of their northern migration. Cape Leeuwin offers protection and an opportunity to meet other whales who are resting in the bay, being the breeding season this is perfect for the males. Our first sighting was an example of what happens when males do meet a female whale in Flinders Bay… the competition pod had begun! Four whales chasing, jostling and chin slapping as they raced at full speed trying to catch the female who turned and made her way directly towards us. Approaching in this way caused the males to slow as they had a quick look at us and also noticed the two other whales that had been travelling alongside us. Thankfully for the competition pod there were no more challengers and they picked up the pace again as they continued to follow the female.
The muffled blow from very small lungs was sighted close to the surface and we watched carefully as little Sunny Flynn surfaced next to his mum and smiled as we sighted his dorsal fin is now starting to straighten and he was swimming confidently next to mum. We didn’t stay long as such a young calf will need to have minimal contact with vessels as they focus on feeding and keeping close to mum. As they grow older and more confident they will have more time to curiously approach vessels with mums company of course and investigate what is happening in their environment. A breach a few hundred meters away caught our attention as the two whales we were travelling with responded by moving away from the pod further ahead, but the pod ahead of us wanted to say hello! Surfacing right on our stern and then circling around and under us as they watched everyone with curiosity and we looked back just as intently. Another wonderful afternoon whale watching under the beautiful Cape Leeuwin.
