The right whales came again today, to loll in the shallows and rub off their barnacles against the white sandy bottom of Middleton Beach.
I love looking at the people, as much as I love looking at the whales. Hundreds of people, standing together, looking out to sea.
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I linked onto the 2008 post. One of the best I reckon. Great to see that photo. Makes me think of home.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, definitely some special bond between us and them whales.
ReplyDeleteThey have been very active in Denmark too. Humpbacks in the bay, about htree I reckon, a young one who keeps breaching and tail-sailing. Really healthy busy little tyke. They have been here for weeks.
I met one of those Right whales and its calf at the foot of Mt Clarence in 1969. I wonder whether it still swims that way, or whether the calf is now a mother or swimmer, returning to the cradle of the bay that gave it shelter?
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading the 2008 post Ciaran, I nearly posted the whole thing again, it reminded me so much of Sunday's scene on the beach.
ReplyDeleteThey are just great hey?
It linked perfectly. That dorsal fin, or whatever part it is in the photo, is amazing. Those guys just hanging out a hundred or so yards off shore, can't say I ever saw it during my time.
ReplyDeleteThose two islands though.... Iconic.
You probably didn't! It would have been a bit scary for them. I was surprised when Tim wrote he'd seen one in 1969. They were prey back then.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't hunt the right whales in 1969, did they? Nah... the hunting of Right Whales ended when, long before 1969 is my bet! But now, if the whale had of been a Sperm would they have let it pass so freely by? I wonder if the whalers of old had rules that they lived by with regard to a mother and calf? Surely they would have stayed way clear, no one kills a mother and its calf, right?
ReplyDeleteHey, and my father has slides of that Right Whale hugging the reef back in 1969. I must dig them up!
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