The offshore season has been extended one week… Awesome!
On October 30, ours was the only boat out at sea. It’s a tranquil river, but what activity there has been off Tadoussac! We cross paths with over ten minke whales, in addition to spotting a fin whale. The animals are quite dynamic, passing near the surface to feed. The reason: schools of krill!
Above these marine mammals, flocks of kittiwakes as well as Bonaparte’s, great black-backed, herring, and ring-billed gulls are also participating in the feast.” I conclude that there is krill in the area, since I have taken several photos of gulls capturing these prey at the surface.
Not far away is a large herd of gray seals – over 100 individuals!
I take numerous pictures of minke whales, many of whose dorsal fins have noticeable notches or distinctive shapes.
Also worth noting is the strong presence of long-tailed ducks being seen off the Tadoussac dunes. They are a little more with each passing day. Soon there will be thousands of them wintering in the area.
Here are the photos of the day:
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GREMM research assistant from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2014, Renaud Pintiaux is a passionate observer and photographer. Year round, whether from shore or on the water, he takes every opportunity to observe marine mammals and birds in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.