Local skipper, Shane Puglisi, said that weather conditions were much cooler further down south, driving the Humpbacks up to Queensland prematurely.

Shane said that the early migration was a sign that cold waters are coming and it is “unusual” compared to former migration patterns, which generally don’t start until around mid-to-late June.

The Humpbacks travelling from the Antarctic head up as far as the other side of Bundaberg and return back generally around October depending on feed quantities.

Local resident and keen whale watcher Daren Hulston photographed these two Humpbacks off Warden Head on Sunday morning and said they were quite close to sure.

- Eliza Winkler