Evan Austin from African Wing Charters has the enviable job of flying every day and witnessing some incredible sights off our coastline. This week he had the first Southern Right whale calf sighting.
“We first spotted him/her on Wednesday 14 July and managed to get this picture. We have spotted it on all flights since the first sighting and the pair seem to be hanging around just south of the Klein River Lagoon mouth. The latest count seems to be just over 30 whales on all flights over Walker Bay spread mainly along the beach between the lagoon mouth and De Kelders.”
The Trust is very excited about the offer from Evan to provide all his photographs which will assist in our whale identification studies for this area.
Whale sightings in Gansbaai have been a late but welcomed event. The first whale sighting by the crew aboard Whale Whisperer (Dyer Island Cruises) was May 21st, but consistent sightings have now begun. Pearly Beach is once again the bay's hot spot with many groups being spotted there. So far, the whales have been on the smaller side (9-11m), suggesting that mostly juveniles and sub-adults have found their way to the bay so far. Large adults (13-15m) are still a once-in-awhile sighting but this should begin to change as we approach season (September-October).
Please diarise the annual Whale Festival which takes place from the 24-28th September in Hermanus. The Trust will have a conservation tent with speakers with a fun and educational slot for children.
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Evan Austin from 
