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Whale Behaviour

10/10/2019

Whales, while well observed, remain an extremely perplexing animal to understand. With whale watching becoming popular as both a tourist and enthusiast activity, documentation of whale behaviour is easily achieved and widespread. On any given day, on any given tour, dozens of cameras and camera phones will be at the ready, snapping images of behaviours such as lobtailing, spy-hopping, and of course, the iconic breaching phenomenon. And yet the purpose of these awesome manoeuvres still remains speculation.

Lobtailing
Lobtailing, a behaviour actually shared with several other large-finned species, involves the whale lifting its tail high out of the water before slapping back down against the water. A movement of immense power, lobtailing is magnificent and intimidating in the same instance, and researchers speculate it may be a method of communication or perhaps a display of aggression to scare off bull whales or even excited observers. Regardless of its purpose, lobtailing is a sight to behold. It is, among other common behaviours, regularly seen by whale watching operators in Sydney.

Lobtailing whale capture on board Ocean Extreme

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Best Times to go Whale Watching from Sydney

30/5/2019

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When to go whale watching is the big question for many whale watchers. For a lot of people taking a trip off Sydney’s coast to watch the humpback whale migration is a once in a lifetime experience so they want to make sure they get the most out of it. Luckily there are many different periods during the six months in which the whales make their way past Sydney so there is always a good time to head out!

The Beginning - May
Best for - firsts of the season
What makes May such a special time to hit the water is the excitement of ‘firsts’. Heading out in May you will hear skippers and guides exclaim your boat has experienced that particular tour’s ‘first breach of the season’ or spotted this year’s first calf! Head out in May and enjoy the buzz of the very start of the season.

Peak of the Northern Migration - June-July
Best for - surface action from competing males
During June and July the Northern Migration hits its peak. Humpback whales are migrating from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to breeding grounds in warmer waters to the north. During this time you will see pods of males competing for the attentions of prospective breeding partners. In terms of surface action this is the best time to experience the migration. Whales will perform a host of acrobatics including the impressive surface breach. In order to obtain this gravity defying manoeuvre this 30-tonne mammal will dive deep before swimming upwards at around 30 kilometers per hour!

Impressive humpback whale breach - Picture: Whale Watching Sydney

Mid-Season Mayhem - August
Best for - everything!
Once August hits we will see the beginnings of the southern migration as well as the continuing excitement of the northern journey. There will be lots going on in August and it is this time of year when going out with an experienced skipper is really important. Our operators have over 30 years combined experience leading tours from Sydney’s coastline. All of this knowledge goes into making sure that each tour experiences the best encounters every day

Peak of the Southern Migration - September-October
Best for - calf encounters and curiosity

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Dolphins, Hammerheads and more spotted during first weekend of 2019

23/5/2019

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Whale watching season officially began this weekend with all tours embarking on their first trips of the season and it wasn't just humpback whales getting camera shutters clicking. All tours reported sightings of a huge range marine wildlife delighting lucky whale watchers.

Ocean Extreme cruised with humpbacks on both Saturday and Sunday but it was dolphins that stole the show. A pod was sighted swimming close to the boat on Saturday afternoon giving customers a chance to grab a few epic shots as they frolicked in the wake.

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A New Season Commences!

16/5/2019

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Pod of 60 killer whales spotted not far from Sydney's coast - Picture: Merimbula Marina

As May rolls around we see Sydney slipping into the full throes of winter. Some may find this time of year grim, but these cold snaps also herald the commencement of the Sydney whale watching season! With both water and air temperatures cooling rapidly, we can expect to see whale sightings steadily increasing through mid to late May, and peaking through June and July as our whale friends chase warmer waters north. 2019 promises the same excitement and wonder of every migration. Steady increases in whale numbers suggest an exceptional season awaits us.

During the 2018 season lucky Sydney whale watchers experienced memorable encounters such as Sydney’s first killer whale sighting for many years. The huge predators were cruising in a pod of close to sixty whales - a rare sighting for Sydney! Such encounters have us excited for more diversity than ever this year. Humpback whales are, of course, the most commonly spotted, but, if you’re lucky, you may catch glimpses of Southern Right Whales, Sperm Whales, Minki Whales, and even the colossal Blue Whales.

Whale watching tours will begin running out of Sydney from the 18th of May when sightings start to become more consistent. During the earlier stages of the migration, expect to see young and lively males making their pilgrimage ahead of the bigger bull whales. Mother whales and their calves are commonly sighted in the second half of the season, when whales are heading south, back to their Antarctic home.

And so, as Sydney cools down you’ll find the team at Manly Whale Watching rugging up and gearing up to get out there for another great season, full of awesome moments with our colossal East Coast travelers!

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Humpback Calf Spotted in North Harbour!

9/5/2019

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Even in early May - the mere beginning of the Sydney whale watching season - whales are being spotted in close proximity to (and even within) the waters of Sydney Harbour. On Wednesday the 8th of May a Manly Kayak Centre employee, Daniel Nugent, was tendering one of our whale watching operators, Blake Horton to the Ocean Extreme vessel moored off of West Esplanade when both they and a departing ferry were stopped in their tracks by a surfacing Humpback Calf. Providing as much distance as possible, and making sure not to approach from behind the whale, Daniel and Blake were left in a state of awe as the young whale headed south from a position roughly 50m from Manly Wharf’s Wharf 3.

Whale sightings within Sydney Harbour are not unheard of during peak season, however, to see such a young whale so far north in the harbour, and so early in the whale watching season, is extremely rare. Both Blake, a whale watching operator with over eight years experience, and Daniel, a Manly local who has spent countless hours on the waters of North Harbour, were surprised by this rare and magical encounter. “As we were driving out to cross the ferry path we ended up stuck behind a fast ferry trying to reverse…” Daniel explained “...to our surprise it was a humpback calf that had stopped the ferry. It was incredible. It was the first time I’ve seen a whale in North Harbour.”

It is believed the juvenile humpback took a wrong turn into the harbour, and upon reaching Manly doubled back to depart through the heads and continue north to warmer waters. Whale Watching Sydney were equally as excited by the phenomenon, a facebook post reading “Whale in the Harbour around Manly right now!” One of their crew members was able to capture the whale surfacing, with the aforementioned video available on their facebook page. It is clear that the whale watching season is just around the corner, and with this unexpected appearance expectations for an action packed season are building steadily.

If we’re seeing action this early, and within the confines of Sydney Harbour, we find ourselves asking the question of what excitement awaits offshore, outside the heads of Sydney Harbour and along the mammalian motorway that is the east coast of Australia?

See Whale Watching Sydney’s video here: https://www.facebook.com/whalewatchingsydney/videos/303812997220842

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Whale Behaviour

Best Times to go Whale Watching from Sydney

Dolphins, Hammerheads and more spotted during first weekend of 2019

A New Season Commences!

Humpback Calf Spotted in North Harbour!

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Whale Behaviour

Best Times to go Whale Watching from Sydney

Dolphins, Hammerheads and more spotted during first weekend of 2019

A New Season Commences!

Humpback Calf Spotted in North Harbour!

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