Omaha and Whangateau residents were in for a treat yesterday afternoon, as a pod of orcas was spotted cruising in the estuary, drawing quite the crowd. 

Marine scientist Lily Kozmian-Ledward was lucky enough to view them from a unique vantage point. 

“Sunday midafternoon I was reading a book in the cockpit of my boat (full time home) moored in the Whangateau estuary. I was startled by a loud blow right by the boat and looked up to see a huge black dorsal fin go past. Orca!! I scrambled on deck to see a small group of orca go by and head for the far side of the channel where they were presumably hunting rays. I could just see their fins sticking out. 

“I could see more orcas coming up the harbour and I grabbed my camera and binoculars. The second group had two distinctive individuals that I have seen several times before. Both in this estuary and elsewhere in NZ. 'Funky monkey' is a male orca with a wonky dorsal fin and Pickle is a female whose dorsal looks like it's been sliced off. They passed right by me! 

Images - Lily Kozmian-Ledward

“Always so incredible to see these huge animals up close! They all headed right up to and under the causeway where cars were stopping to watch them. Maybe 15 minutes later they started heading back down the harbour as the tide started to go out. Some passed close by me again and others closer to the Omaha shoreline where quite a crowd had gathered to watch.”

The wharf and northern end of the beach were busy with spectators, but everyone was respectful of the social distancing rules. 

These beautiful creatures added a little spot of excitement and positivity to what all hope may be our last week of level four lockdown.

Orca sightings can be phoned into 0800 SEE ORCA