South Coast hosts great humpback comeback

Whales are putting on a spectacular show in a bumper season for watchers, with one charter reporting more than 100 sightings in a single day.Narooma has had a large influx of whales over the past six weeks as an early and prolonged feeding season brings the massive creatures close to the coast.National Parks and Wildlife Service officer Mark Westwood described this season as the best he had seen, attributing the large number of sightings to a rich body of cold water carrying krill - part of the whales' diet. Narooma Charters' Darryl Stuart said his boats were seeing about 50 whales a day, compared with only 20 last year."We are seeing more whales than whale watchers," he said.Mr Stuart said the most successful charter of the season had spotted more than 100 humpbacks and the numbers have been rising by 10 to 15 per cent each year.The mammals have been friendly, coming close to boats and putting on magnificent breaching and tail-slapping displays. This is set to continue, with mothers and their calves, the most playful of the pods, likely to pass through quite soon."The young whales are very boat friendly; they swim around the boat and under the boat," Mr Stuart said.Kiama-based charter operator Captain Roscoe O'Brien said whales were being spotted on every charter this season.He said more calves had be seen this year, their inquisitive nature bringing them close.Capt O'Brien said the mothers and calves could also been seen closer to the shore, taking advantage of the shelter offered by the coastline.Another 10 whales were spotted in Jervis Bay Marine Park's sheltered waters yesterday. The whales are expected to stick around for another six weeks of feeding before heading to the icy waters of Antarctica.EDITORIALInspiring display: Page 58