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Rare whale mother and calf spotted on South Coast

September 6, 2023 6:18 am in by

A rare southern right whale mother and calf have been sighted off the Far South Coast.

Registered drone pilot for the Right Whale ID research project and Tathra local, Terry Dixon, spotted the pair swimming into Tathra around 7am on Tuesday.

Mr Dixon says he spotted them through his binoculars before driving his car drove to Tathra beach, and launching his drone, north towards the river mouth.

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“Once I spotted them I just videoed and took photographs to send back to the scientists,” Mr Dixon said.

Just hours later the scientists confirmed with Mr Dixon the pair were the same ones identified swimming into Wollongong in August.

Mr Dixon said it was pretty special to see mothers and calf travelling and playing together along our coast.

“Southern right ehales are a rare species on this part of the Australian coastline.”

Mr Dixon also captured some incredible video (below) of a humpback whale mother and calf near Tathra last week.

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“They were heading south just off Kianinny then turned around to seek shelter in the bay at Tathra.”

There were some reports of Orcas in Tathra but Mr Dixon said he didn’t see any.

“All I seen was a lot of humpbacks rolling around next to the (Tathra) Wharf.”

Images/Videos: Terry Dixon / Oceanspray Photography

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