Seals and whales in the Bay

A really exciting day, it was another terribly windy day and I really didnt think we would see any whales but we counted at least eight possibly more, and a couple of seals lazing around in the water by the rocks.
The great gout of water is all I managed to get of a huge whale who was breaching about 2 to 3 kms away, I have never seen them do this before, I suddenly saw what looked like something the size of a bus emerge from the water and come down with a heck of a splash, they say that our Southern rights dont breach but this one had most of his body out of the water, not just his head.
The trouble with the digital camera is the time lag and usually I got sea tried desperately to get a tail out and didnt manage that either.
If you try this, if I can copy it correctly you may learn more about them.
The whale in the third photo is how I have normally seen them but with so many whales around maybe there was a female in season and the others were showing off, I dont know but it was the best I have seen in many years of whale watching down here.
The walk around the end of Bashams Beach near Pt Elliott is lovely and here is a photo of the native clematis or old man's beard that was in full flower and the little bay before you get to the point. All rocks and curves and lovely sea.
I havent walked by this bit of beach for ages and it was well worth a slightly aching knee to do it.

Judith Wright from Counting in Sevens.

"Seven nines are sixty- three; seven tens are seventy.
Who would that old woman be?
She will remember being me,
but what she is I cannot see."