Author Archive | Micah Jenner

Sep 20, 2104 Diving near whirlpools flattening the water in huge swirls in tide rips in narrow gaps between islands at low tide, this humpback whale has some serious navigating to do.  The top of the black lines on the shoreline indicate the top of the tide.  With tides reaching 10 metres, the tidal range […]

 Sep 19, 2014  Fluke Extension – this humpback whale is literally doing a handstand in the water!  The rest of its’ body is underwater, directly below the strong caudal peduncle and held high tail flukes.  At the water surface, the visible tip of a pectoral fin helps balance this extended fluke manoeuvre. The beautiful and ancient Buccaneer […]

Sep 18, 2014 ‘We’ve got whales mum, they are right here!’  Skippers’ excited bark and frenzied expression seem to translate as such!  Just what whales and dolphins make of our crazy Jack Russel is of course unknown, but bow-riding cetaceans appear to engage with him and he with them.  Dolphins often roll to look up […]

Sep 17, 2014 We are on the trail of a whale!  Powerful flukes 5 m across propel humpback whales on a mammoth journey, some 6,000 km to and from the northern, tropical breeding grounds and the southern feeding grounds in the Antarctic.  The whalers once thought the “foot-print” or flat spot on the water surface […]

Sep 16, 2014 Whale Song was neatly tucked inside the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago beside Lord Byron Island during several overnight visits on our recent expedition into the Kimberley.  Looking at this beach takes me back almost 20 years.  On occasion, I brought Micah, our boat baby, ashore here for brief but enjoyable morning […]

Sep 15, 2014  Our good ship Whale Song travelled throughout the ancient islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago in search of humpback whales. Huh, we found some!  With the belly oriented towards the surface, this whale is doing a Pectoral Fin Wave!  The phalange bumps, the bumps on the leading edge of the pectoral fin, are […]

Sep 14, 2014 Incoming!  This whale is coming back in for another look!  What is it about Whale Song that the whales like?  On the flat, platelike upper jaw are sensory tubercles which are small bumps with a single hair cell, nervous system and blood system.  Next in the image one can clearly see the […]

Sep 13, 2014 Family life – a cow and calf accompanied by two escorts, slowly move through the islands.  The cows’ dedication to protecting her calf and fending off the interest of males seeking mating opportunities with her, fill the agenda during the tropical winter breeding season. Another spectacular Kimberley sunset unfolds around us.  Intense […]

Sep 12, 2014 Surface charging, this humpback whale is moving quickly at the surface while trumpeting loudly.  These are aggressive displays males exhibit towards each other in the battle for females.  This whale shows signs of male on male altercations, with many of its’ sensory tubercles rubbed raw.   Forty tonnes of bone, blubber and testosterone […]

Sep 11, 2014 Golden fluke in a golden sunset… Humpback whales expertly travel and rest among the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago during the tropical, winter breeding season. Ancient rocks hold their zing – the punchy colours of the Kimberley are simply incredible!