Autumn Wildlife Update

As the long days of summer give way to cooler mornings and crisp sea breezes, autumn brings a noticeable shift along the coast. Late summer quietly marks the end of the breeding season for much of our local marine life, and a new chapter begins for the youngest members of the colony.

By late summer, the bulls head back into Bass Strait to feed, leaving the females to nurse their pups. The bulls will not return until next breeding season at the end of the year.

Playful pups and growing independence

Autumn is when things get playful. At four to five months old, seal pups are busy practising prey chasing, diving and swimming. You will often see them in large groups in the water, full of curiosity and energy, while their mums forage for fish or rest on the rocks. Juvenile seals are also regularly spotted hauled out along the rocky ledges of Cape Woolamai.

The autumn moult

Moulting begins in autumn, and seals spend more time ashore grunting and scratching as they shed their fur. Pups lose their distinctive black natal coat and replace it with a brown silver, two layered fur that keeps them warm and waterproof in the chilly waters of Bass Strait.

Preparing for long journeys

Thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters are now busy feeding their hungry and growing chicks in the burrows on the island. Huge flocks of the adult birds can be seen flying in after sunset and taking off again at dawn, an extraordinary sight! Shearwater chicks will be ready to fledge in late April, when they embark on their very first journey to feeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.

Ocean visitors passing through

Further offshore, February brought sightings of Killer Whales on their hunting journey, and an entangled Humpback Whale was reported off Wilsons Promontory. Dolphins, however, remain a regular highlight, with both Bottlenose and Common Dolphins frequently joining our Cape and Seal Cruises.

Autumn is a season of growth and change along our coast. With playful pups and the chance of exciting offshore visitors, it is a beautiful time to experience Phillip Island’s marine life.