Hermanus - 2026-04-09

 

A Glimpse of the Shy Giant: Bryde’s Whales at Gearing’s Point

While the famous Southern Right whales usually steal the spotlight in Hermanus from June onwards, today at Gearing’s Point, the ocean treated us to a special appearance by our year-round resident: the Bryde’s whale (pronounced "broo-dus").

Unlike their more acrobatic cousins, Bryde’s whales are the sleek "sprinters" of the sea. Seeing them from the cliffs today was a masterclass in subtlety. Here is the story of our sighting:

• The Identification: You can tell it's a Bryde's whale by that sharp, hooked dorsal fin (clearly visible in the photos) that sits about two-thirds of the way down its back. If you’re lucky enough to get a front-on view, you’d see three distinct ridges running along its head—a feature unique to this species.

• The Behavior: They didn't linger long for "spy-hopping" or "breaching." Instead, they moved with incredible speed and purpose. We watched as they broke the surface with a shallow, rolling motion, barely showing more than their dark, slate-grey backs before slipping back into the deep.

• The Hunt: Because they are "rorkuals" (gulp feeders), their presence often means there is plenty of action beneath the surface. Today’s visitor seemed to be chasing baitfish, appearing briefly in one spot only to resurface hundreds of meters away just moments later.

• Snapshot Fact: Bryde's whales can reach speeds of up to 24 km/h, making them one of the fastest of the large whale species. Finding them in the viewfinder is a victory in itself!

Hermanus - 2026-03-04

 The morning light at Gearing’s Point often reveals more than just the cold Atlantic; today, it offered a front-row seat to one of nature’s most energetic displays. While the famous Southern Right whales are still months away from their winter migration, the resident Bryde’s whales and massive pods of Common dolphins took center stage.

The Resident Hunter

Unlike their migratory cousins, the Bryde’s whales (pronounced "broodus") are the year-round sentinels of Walker Bay. Sleek and fast, they lack the slow, drifting grace of the Southern Rights. This morning, they were seen in their element—dynamic and purposeful. As a "rinkhals" of the sea, the Bryde’s whale is a predator of opportunity, following the massive shoals of pilchards and anchovies that hug the Hermanus coastline.

The Common Dolphin "Superpod"

Accompanying the whales was a sprawling pod of Common dolphins. These are not the shy residents sometimes seen in the surf; they are high-energy hunters. From the cliffs of Gearing’s Point, their distinct "hourglass" flank markings are often visible as they breach the surface in a synchronized rush.

They aren't just swimming; they are herding. Working in tandem with the Bryde's whales, the dolphins act as the "beaters" of the ocean, corralling fish into tight "bait balls."

The Interaction

Observers at the point witnessed a classic feeding frenzy. When a Bryde’s whale lunges through a bait ball, it does so with immense power, often breaking the surface with its pleated throat expanded. The dolphins dart around the edges, picking off the stragglers. Above them, Cape Gannets often join the fray, diving like feathered arrows from the sky.

In the quiet of a March morning, before the tourist crowds of the Whale Festival arrive, these sightings serve as a reminder that Walker Bay is a thriving, wild ecosystem every day of the year.

Hermanus - 2026-02-02

How magical! 🐬🐋
I was at Gearing’s Point in Hermanus today and got the most incredible surprise—Common dolphins and Bryde’s whales right from the shore. There was even a Bryde’s whale mother and calf swimming together. Such a special reminder of how lucky we are to witness moments like this in the wild. Absolutely unforgettable!