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Whales passing by Mollymook
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Whale of a Time: They have been referred to as the ‘Pop Stars’ of the sea. It is around this time of the year that they begin making their appearance passing by Mollymook on their way south with their calves. Guests at Mollymook Beach Waterfront have enjoyed sitting on their private decks watching these huge mammals, the biggest on the planet showing off and performing. The September – October period is generally the best time to view them as they pass by our local area.
The top and bottom pics are Southern Right whales, massive and a bit more placid whereas the breaching and performing whales are the ‘Humpback’ variety. Renowned for their spectacular ocean antics, humpbacks will leap out of the water, roll in the air with their huge fins outstretched like wings and crash noisily back into the ocean.
Measuring 14 to 18 metres at maturity and weighing up to 50 tonnes, humpback whales can be easy to see due to their active behaviour. They also have unique black and white markings on the underside of their tail flukes and arch steeply as they dive – hence the name.
Interestingly, the Southern Right and Humpback whales follow a similar route each year.
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