A RARE glimpse of two open-mouthed and very hungry adult humpback whales was captured off the coast of Port Macquarie on Monday.
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Whale sightings have been common place over the past few months as the majestic sea giants make their way along the east coast on their annual migratory journey.
But catching a humpback out for lunch is a behavioural pattern not often seen off our shores.
Just after midday, Leigh Mansfield took a series of photos while on board a whale watching trip with Port Macquarie Cruise Adventures.
The crew was two kilometres out to sea when they spotted the pair having a feast.
“We came on to two adult humpback whales feeding on krill,” Mr Mansfield said. “It is a rare moment seeing humpback whales feeding at Port Macquarie.”
Mr Mansfield said humpbacks would often avoid feeding on their journey between the Antarctic and the warmer waters of Queensland, a factor which made spotting them in action an even greater surprise.
Humpbacks feed by circling around schools of small fish or krill and making a cylindrical net of bubbles. They then lunge into the concentrated cloud of prey with mouths wide open.
Instead of pearly whites, they sport between almost 300 to 400 overlapping fringed plates hanging from their upper jaw.
