They’re back! The regular Southern Right Whales have returned to the Fleurieu Peninsula coast for another breeding season to nurture and grow their calves in the relatively safer and warmer waters than their Antarctic home.

The experts know it’s the same whales because of their telltale markings of callosities on their heads.

These callosities are hard patches of skin, or callouses, that can also have barnacles embedded in them. Each Southern Right Whale has a unique pattern of callosities, much like a fingerprint, which makes them identifiable within a group.

Southern Right whales can also be identified as being grey to black in colour, measuring between 14 to18 metres in length, with white patches known as blazes, no dorsal fin and a V-shaped blow. They are a large, rotund whale with a square head and flippers. They are still classified as an endangered species, so it’s great to see the same ones return every year with a new calf.

There are a number of sites along the coast between Victor Harbor and Goolwa where you can get the best viewing spots and these include:

• The Bluff and bluff jetty in Victor Harbor
• Waitpinga Cliffs
• Granite Island
• Various spots along the coast from Victor Harbor through to Port Elliot
• Freeman’s Knob, Port Elliot
• Commodore Point, Port Elliot
• Fisherman Bay and Basham Beach between Port Elliot and Middleton
• Middleton Point
• Along the surfers beach, Middleton
• Goolwa Beach lookout

Some days they seem to stay in one place for a long time and other days they can constantly be on the move so it can be a lucky chance if you happen to see them for a period of time.

The whale watching season typically runs from late May through to October, so there’s plenty of time to still see these wonderful creatures. The SA Whale Centre at Victor Harbor keeps us all up to date on latest sightings via their social media, so keep an eye on their channels for updates.

The Facebook page seems to have the most up to date, timely information, with pinpoint locations to have the best chance to view these beauties.

The whale photos in this post were all captured in the last week or so between Port Elliot and Middleton but it has taken a lot of visits, and a dose of luck to be in the right spot at the right time.

Rug up and enjoy the search.

Glenys