Perth Whale Tours are observing an incredible number of whales in the sighting grounds with 100+ Humpbacks observed today as bouncy calves, social mums and boisterous bachelors enjoyed the glassy calm weather today. All three tours observed many pods moving through the sighting grounds as a few were settled and resting in areas away from all the other activity today. Calves were practicing all their skills learnt along the journey south as breaching, tail lobs and pec slaps caused much commotion on the waters surface. The mother whales were relaxed and social today as many of them mingled together with their calves and seemed to be enjoying the interactions almost as much as their little ones. Beyond the mums and bubs we also observed competitive males today as bachelor males located females migrating south without calves.
Few and far between this late in the breeding season these females are the main focus for the bachelor males as they pursue them dramatically through the sighting grounds. Trumpeting, chin slapping and swiping towards each other with their long pectorals were all attempts to disrupt and outmanoeuvre the other males as they worked their way up the line towards the female. It was a marvellous day to be out on the water and enjoy such beautiful weather conditions, with hardly any wind for most of the day we enjoyed glassy seas in miso like conditions. The next week or so will be very interesting to see how many more of these impressive bachelor pods and competition pods will keep moving through before the rest of the mums and calves take over the coastline in force. Perth Whale tours are always a joy and today was another brilliant opportunity to enjoy spending time with the wonderful whales of Western Australia!
