Whale Watch Rottnest Island in September to see the magnificent Humpback Whales with many escort pods moving through today with a boisterous bachelor pod showing up later in the afternoon. The easterly breeze has settled in for most of the weekend and this morning it was once again ruffling the waters surface as multiple pods were moving through the sighting grounds. Pec slapping is often used by Humpbacks to attract attention towards themselves and today it was interesting to observe as one pod in particular was calling out to see what sort of a response they would get from the nearby pods. A few distant breaches resulted before they all began to regroup and find a spot in the resting grounds that was a little less busy with many escort pods now formed they were all wanting to maintain a good reactionary distance from each other. A very curious juvenile made a last approach to check out the Steep Point and did a big 360 investigation before continuing on his way in search of a Humpback friend.
The afternoon was very similar with our first pod being two mature adults, a male and female travelling together. The female took some interest in us and approached the bow as she swam underneath before resurfacing on the other side. She was now closest to us and we watched on with amusement as her now flustered escort male decided to show off with a big tail lob and establish this was his female and not ours! He needn’t worry as they moved off together and we joined with a very large lone female Humpback calmly pec slapping away. She was calling out and looking for an escort as she gracefully lifted not just one but both of her pectorals and created that recognisable call to all who could hear nearby. Unfortunately she was not able to call in a suitable candidate so continued on her way towards Rottnest Island as we moved back towards the coastline as a commotion broke out amongst cheeky juveniles. Big tail lobs started it first before a chase was on as three males pursued the female and a competition pod began in an instant as they raced around the Steep Point.
