Kimberley Whale and Dolphin Watching

Home

Watching Green Turtles and stingrays over the shallow sand-flats near Middle Island, whilst being mobbed by juvenile Brown Boobies.

Highlights of 2007-2008

The ocean between the Kimberley coast and Ashmore Reef is one of the richest for marine wildife in the world. In the last two trips we have recorded 14 species of of whale and dolphin in just 10 days at sea. In all, we have recorded 16 species so far (see map below). Amongst the highlights:

Numerous sightings of Spinner Dolphins, doing exactly what their name suggests!
An encounter with Blue Whale, the biggest animal that ever lived on earth;
Several sightings of enigmatic Dwarf Sperm Whales;
A pod of 20 False Killer Whales;
Huge mixed groups of Fraser's Dolphins, Melon-headed Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins and Rough-toothed Dolphins; and
Australia's only endemic dolphin - Australian Snubfin Dolphin.

In addition to marine mammals, we also see Loggerhead, Flatback and Green Turtles, numerous sea snakes plus very occasionally something really special like Leatherback Turtle or Whale Shark. The seabirds are also spectacular, especially around the Lacepedes, where literally millions breed. In the offshore areas, we play host to a number of birds that breed in Japan, such as Matsudaira's Storm Petrels and Streaked Shearwaters.

Fraser's Dolphins characteristically formed large frenetic pods, leaving a trail of white water in their wake. They often travel alongside other species such as as Melon-headed Whale and Rough-toothed Dolphins.

Your Guides

For real wildlife experiences in the Kimberley, George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching provides an unsurpassed experience and will be your leader for this trip.

"Thanks to George Swann, he's given me a pure experience of the Kimberley's magnificent nature and birdlife. If you're anything like me who appreciates raw beauty and natural wonders of our world, then George is the man for you"......Cathy Freeman, Australia, Olympic Gold Medalist

George will be joined by expert seabird and marine mammal biologists and enthusiasts to promise you an insightful and informative trip.

Click to play the video (left).

TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN THIS TRIP, SEE BELOW

A Feeding Frenzy of Dolphins, Whales, Flying Fish and Seabirds

A couple of hours from Ashmore Reef over dizzying water depths of a kilometre or so, we started to cross shimmering lines of calm water in the rippled sea surface. These tell-tail signs of upwelling are a sure indication of something remarkable about to happen and so it was we spotted flocks of wheeling birds on the horizon. Boobies! With tapered wings and binocular vision, both Brown and Red-footed could be seen diving like javelins into the sea. Then almost inevitably, someone on the spotting scope cried "dolphins" as one or two were seen leaping beneath the birds in a frenzy of feeding.

Flying fish began to launch ahead of the boat as we lazily (for there is no other way at sea in the tropics) made our way forward. Anticipation built as we approached the kill zone, all the time flanked by more boobies making their own way alongside us. Our method of finding our chosen quarry at sea is not that different from the seabirds. Red-footed Boobies, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Sooty Terns and even sharks and flying fish parade in lines along these surface lines, where nutrients from marine snow fall eons before, resurfaces to form a soup of plankton.

On approach, we were treated to a large pod of Bottlenose Dolphins, that chose to ride under the bow of our vessel. You could even hear them whistling beneath. Typically apprehensive Spinner Dolphins porpoised ahead and with a moment of notice, a few Melon-headed Whales were seen, then a Rough-toothed Dolphin and finally the characteristic wake of white-water behind a fast-moving pod of Fraser's Dolphins. What a sight!

The Boobies are expert flying fish hunters, often catching them on the wing. At the heart of this feast however, was a mass of fish, coralled into a ball by dolphins and tuna below, pushed to the surface and then struck from above by the seabirds. This performance occurs time and time again offshore, revealing the hidden connections in the ecology of these different species. The seabirds couldn't survive if it were not for tuna and dolphins raising prey to the surface. Maybe even the dolphins and whales, with eyesight like our own, leap from the surface and glimpsing flocks of birds, to make their own pursuit.

It is these moments that make trips like this so special but it is hard to know when to even take a toilet break! The next exciting encounter could happen any second.

Map of past sightings (zoom to view more detail)

View Larger Map

Data collected contributes to community understanding about this unique environment. Results from past trips were used in WWF's recent report on Coastal and Marine Natural Values of the Kimberley (download from here).

Photos on this website by Rohan Clarke (www.wildlifeimages.com.au), Richard Baxter and Simon Mustoe.

SUBSCRIBE
Complete the form below to receive updates and information about this and future expeditions.

Conservation of the Offshore Kimberley

The Kimberley coast is inextricably linked to processes offshore and the wealth of marine wildlife has a lot to do with the region's intact ecosystem and wilderness. WWF has recognised the Kimberley has having outstanding global biodiversity value in its Global 200 inventory of priority places on the planet.

In recent months, the Kimberley has become a focus of interest for development of a Liquified Natural Gas processing plant, which would add to existing human pressures. Out of site of the coast however, there is already considerable oil and gas exploration activity, focused on the Browse Basin and areas around Scott Reef.

Out of sight of land and in remote and hard to reach areas, our marine environments are rarely studied and poorly known. This is a chance for you to take part in frontier research in one of the most important areas of Australia.

By supporting this expedition, either by providing a donation or by booking as one of our passengers, you will help us collect more valuable data. This will lead to a better appreciation of the offshore Kimberley's importance and can be used to support community conservation initiatives.

Make a Reservation

To make a reservation and for more details about this expedition, please contact Simon Mustoe +61 (0)3 9752 6398 / +61 (0)405 220830.

Make a Donation

Our trips employ marine biologists to gather data and contribute this back to conservation. We seek to add value to these trips by providing equipment and resources
to researchers on board.

To make a donation, either contact us directly on the address above, or follow the button below. Note, we may be in a position to provide corporate endorsement or other incentives. Please enquire for more details.

STOP PRESS!!

On 31 December, Yahoo News reported the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences discovery of a high density of whales and dolphins, and a possible migratory corridor off East Timor. Blue Whales and other migratory species seen in the Kimberley coare likely to be using this route to reach rich feeding grounds in the Timor Sea in winter.