With an estimated 30,000 humpbacks swimming north along Australia’s coastlines to their Queensland and Western Australian breeding grounds over the next few months, spotting them and recording their behaviour was ORRCA’s mission for the June 24 whale count. 

It is the 19^th census conducted by ORRCA and in 2017, the group recorded the highest number of migrating whales with 2065 sightings.

And if trends continue, there could be another 10 per cent rise in the number of whales migrating north this year.

Andy Marshall from National Parks and Wildlife said this year’s count could top anywhere between 350-400 sightings for the day.

“The 2017 count was quite extraordinary in terms of the increase in the number of sightings,” Mr Marshall said.

“The big ticket item for nations around the world is that we are no longer routinely engaging in harvesting whales anymore.”

The humpback whale population was near decimated off Australian waters in the 1960s. Conservation measures and a stop to whaling has significantly improved the future of the species.

“The first whale count we did 19 years ago we saw 17 whales. Today we are counting upwards of 300 and that population increase of around 10 per cent per year is now fairly predictable.”

Whale watcher and photographer Leana Brown of Port Macquarie joined the throng of spotters at the lighthouse. She said to be a part of the census is a privilege.

“We really do live in a photographer’s utopia here,” Leana said.

Meanwhile, a very special little visitor huddled close to its bigger cousin at Lighthouse Beach on June 21.

The arrival of a New Zealand fur seal earlier last week was trumped by the arrival of a sub Antarctic fur seal on Thursday.

The two seals lazed about on rocks for most of the day and delighted onlookers.

ORRCA says sightings of the smaller fur seal are very rare in northern waters. They are among the smallest of fur seals and juveniles are often mistaken as pups. 

They are very timid, and will often crawl into bushes, ORRCA says. They will also lay motionless at times.

Despite their small size they will still deliver a nasty bite. 

The species is more often found in an area known as the “Antarctic Convergence" - a zone of water between the cold waters of the true Antarctic and the more temperate waters to the north.

Onlookers are urged to stay back at least 40 metres, and never get between a seal and the water. If you see a seal yawn, it is actually baring its teeth, and is warning that it may bite.

If you see a seal report it to the ORRCA Seal Hotline 02 9415 3333.