Greg Leayr, of Tura Beach, just happened to be in the right place at the right time when he caught a breaching rare Migaloo albino whale on his mobile phone camera while at work at Green Cape Lightstation on Tuesday morning.
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He was thrilled to witness such a rare spectacle. The whales give off what is described as a fluorescent blue glow making them easily identifiable.
Migaloo is one of the world's rarest whales and the unique mammal has not been seen off the local coastline since 2008.
Greg’s photo of the male humpback went viral after he posted the photo on the Migaloo sightings website, causing quite a stir among whale watchers.
The whale was heading north and by Thursday had made it to Sydney’s Botany Bay.
White Whale Research Centre Founder Oskar Peterson said the timing of the whale’s voyage is consistent with Migaloo’s previous movement patterns.
“The timing is correct for Migaloo, who has been known to go past Eden at this time of year
”I can confirm a two-week window for Cape Byron to the Gold Coast being the last week of June and the first week of July.”
Greg, who works as a casual with Auswide Projects which has the lease of the Lighthouse precinct, was working a shift in the lighthouse when he espied Migaloo.
One of his work colleagues, Gary Mullanger, who is caretaker of Green Cape Lighthouse Accommodation sighted 19 whales in the space of 35 minutes on Friday morning.
Rob Barber, Auswide’s Adventure Accommodation manager said the Green Cape accommodation that comprises two cottages and a guesthouse provided possibly one of the best vantage spots in the world to view migrating whales whether on their passage north or south along the coast.
“The experience of whale watching is unsurpassed,“ he said.
