First big blue of the season

Footage of a blue whale breaching the ocean surface near Misery Beach was captured by staff at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station at noon today.

The large whale was spotted near Michaelmas Island at 9am this morning headed toward Albany.

At 10.30am it was confirmed as a blue whale as it swam into King George Sound before moving closer to the Historic Whaling Station where it spotted blowing alongside a ship before this video was taken.

This is the first sighting of the new whale watching season according to staff at the Historic Whaling Station.

Zoologist and photographer Steve Reynolds was aboard the Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition over the Easter long weekend when he snapped a shot of blue whales pass-ing close to the coast on Saturday.

This sub-species is known as a pygmy blue whale, however, measuring up to 24m, it is not much smaller than its full-size cousin, which can grow to 30m.

Mr Reynolds said spotting three pairs of the blue whales was a “real treat”.

“They can certainly motor along, capable of 50km/h, and the skipper did a great job of keeping our distance whilst providing a stunning backdrop of the dunes to the west of Bremer,” he said. “A very special moment that myself and the passengers that day will not forget — being so close to one of the largest animals that have ever existed.”

The Albany whale-watching season runs from June-October.