Observation of the Week

Big blasts off the coast of Franquelin, several large rorquals in Gaspésie and gatherings of belugas in the estuary... it…

In the St. Lawrence, the blazing colours of the coast contrast with the dark backs of humpback whales, the bright…

With four blue whales spotted in the estuary, two near Franquelin and three in Gaspésie, it’s almost as if fall…

Without a doubt, the big stars of the estuary this week are blue whales! These giant visitors have been identified:…

The past week was ideal for enjoying the cool weather and those who ventured to the shores of the St.…

What a joy to see whales and seals slip out of the water for a few seconds before completely vanishing,…

This week was marked by blue whales in the estuary, belugas in Cap-aux-Oies, right whales in the Mingan sector, harbour…

Fair weather, cool autumn breezes... What more could you ask for this September? How about lingering blue whales, a host…

A small adventurous rorqual, identified belugas, the arrival of several large rorquals... What more could you ask for in late…

A bioluminescent night with belugas in Tadoussac, a humpback whale breaching during a meal in Les Escoumins, dozens of right…

Whether it’s groups of white-sided dolphins breaking the surface in successive bursts, minke whales showing their bellies, or the humpback…

Just like the top athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris, cetaceans also hold a number of records! From blue…

Whether it’s a blue whale swimming off the coast of Matane, fin whales in Gaspé Bay, North Atlantic right whales…

There is something romantic and relaxing about the seaside, which is perhaps why vacationers make a mad dash to the…

Imagine having the chance to see all four species of rorquals that frequent the St. Lawrence in the same day!…

From the smallest to the largest, whales of all sorts are currently gathered in the St. Lawrence! Harbour porpoises are…

Siam, the estuary’s oldest humpback whale, is back! Whales were swimming just about everywhere in the St. Lawrence, including good…

It appears that whales have finally made a big return to the estuary and gulf! From one end of the…

With the heatwave of the last few days, the cool, refreshing winds blowing over the river were certainly more than…

Whether it’s the glistening white backs of belugas in the estuary, abundant minke whales, or the humpback whale Irisept eating…

Whether they consume krill, fish or invertebrates, whales come to feed in the St. Lawrence and the immense smörgåsbord it…

The humpback whale Tic Tac Toe was observed in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park for the first time this year!…

Fin whales are stealing the show this week, in large numbers. Individuals have even been identified, and some regulars are…

This week in the St. Lawrence, beluga vocalizations accompany the northern lights, while minke whales attract attention with their spectacular…

Between the splashing waves, we spot a couple dark fins moving. We can definitely recognize the signs of a large…

Increasing numbers of groups of belugas are being spotted in the estuary, swimming amongst the quietly returning minke whales. Harbour…

This past week, belugas have been seen from both shores of the estuary. Humpbacks, minke whales and seals were also…

Two fin whales, good numbers of belugas, several minke whales, a humpback… The tally of cetaceans observed in the waters…

On April 8, the banks of the St. Lawrence were basked in sunset-like lighting during the solar eclipse. For those…

“Fin whales in Les Escoumins,” remarks one avid yet impressed observer: “Their powerful breaths really hit you in the gut!” “A…

Large rorquals continuing to wow observers, a few belugas, harp seals resting on the ice and harbour seals... What more…

“Seeing them breath when it’s cold is even more impressive! When we talk about 10 metres high, it’s really 10…

A spring snow squall, minke whales slowly arriving, humpbacks breaching and river otters peering at the camera... The riverbanks were…

There's been plenty of action in the St. Lawrence in these first few days of March! Several belugas were seen…

In terms of marine mammal sightings, the week can be summed up by harp seals at several locations in the…

It seems that the biggest giant of all has paid a little visit to Les Escoumins! In fact, several local…

Large rorquals continue to blow off the coasts of Franquelin and Godbout, making for some extraordinary winter observations. Elsewhere in…

Once again this week, blue whales have been on the prowl, with one spotted in Franquelin, others in Godbout and…

Viewed from the window, a powerful blast erupts from the river’s murky waters. From the comfort of their own home,…

If it weren’t for the snow-covered shoreline and the sub-zero temperatures, Franquelin residents could almost be forgiven for thinking it’s…

Throughout the St. Lawrence, the snowfall of the past few days has put a damper on opportunities for watching marine…

The presence of fin whales in the estuary surprised observers just in time for New Year’s. Harp seals have been…

Across the St. Lawrence, it was the tranquility of sightings that marked the past week. Many observers reported seeing nothing…

What could possibly spark the interest of adults and children alike, drawing a crowd on the shores of Franquelin one…

Dozens of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, a late humpback, a minke whale here, belugas there... There’s so much marine fauna in…

As November winds down, the snow gently reminds us that winter temperatures are right around the corner. With most of…

Although sightings are beginning to taper off in the gulf, the estuary is still abuzz with the resonating spouts of…

Humpback whales were at it again this week, giving us perhaps one last chance to admire their antics in the…

Notable sightings of the week included reports of little make-believe characters, from Nemo to the Little Mermaid to SpongeBob, parading…

Rare visitors to the St. Lawrence were observed this past week in Quebec's Basse-Côte-Nord (Lower North Shore) region: killer whales.…

Although the cruise season is drawing to a close, marine mammals don’t seem like they’re quite ready to leave! Almost…

In the sometimes calm, sometimes choppy waters of the St. Lawrence, cetaceans have made some noteworthy appearances. The clearly visible,…

New whales continue to arrive in the St. Lawrence and marine diversity is matched only by the palette of colours…

They swim in groups in successive leaps, a palette of colours radiating above the water surface. We can distinguish white…

Autumn is right around the corner for our queens of the seas, who are gearing up – quietly but surely!…

Despite the excitement caused by the long-awaited arrival of sperm whales in the gulf, a certain calm has now returned…

A new species is visiting the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the first time this year: the sperm whale. In…

The magic of moments along the St. Lawrence is in abundance as August comes to a close. It's a graceful…

What could be more impressive than a blue whale, the largest animal alive? Perhaps to see this immense whale make…

Blue whales? Up to three individuals have reportedly been observed in the estuary. Humpbacks? Several in Gaspé Bay, including a…

The waters of the St. Lawrence are populated by a multitude of marine mammals: Tic Tac Toe is back for…

Eight humpback whales were identified over the past week in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. At the other end of…

What did the waters off Percé and those near Anticosti Island have in common this past week? Both were visited…

The fog lifts after having shrouded Gaspé Bay for several days, meaning observers can finally admire the colourful panorama... and…

They exude an aura of magic that animates evening get-togethers along the shores of the St. Lawrence. Every year, visitors…

Although the start of the season has been a quiet one, whales seem to have finally arrived in the St.…

In the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park as well as in the Mingan and Sept-Îles sectors, humpback and fin whale sightings…

The weekly sightings column is not only a bit of a summary of everything that has been seen in the…

This week, large rorquals were present all around the gulf. A blue whale made an appearance near Sept-Îles, minke whales…

After a quiet start to the season, humpback whales are now making a long-awaited return to Gaspésie, with between six…

Even if the week was quiet in terms of observations, the presence of minke whales did add a little action…

Tuesday, May 23, 2023. For amateur cetologist René Roy, this is his second time on the water this season. During…

This week, marine mammals were not deterred by the snow and wind from parading up and down the St. Lawrence.…

While some communities are eagerly waiting for the ice to break up on the local river or for the tulips…

The heavy rains and strong winds that pounded “La Belle Province” in recent days have certainly made watching marine mammals…

“You’ll see, tomorrow morning there will be humpbacks in Les Bergeronnes,” claims Renaud Pintiaux, a long-time observer forWhales Online. Gut…

Swimming in proximity to both a blue whale and a fin whale, the first harbour porpoises of the season made…

The list of marine species present in the St. Lawrence is getting longer and longer: blue whales and fin whales…

This past week in the St. Lawrence, strong winds, inclement weather and rough seas did not make easy to observe…

The mysterious series of spout sightings that began last week continues, only this time we might actually be able to…

This week, eyes are shifting to the Gaspé in the hope of solving a very particular enigma… Large rorquals have…

Off the coast of Sept-Îles, a huge blast rises into the air, then another. Clearly visible from shore, these blows…

Last week’s sightings article may have inspired some of you... One marine mammal enthusiast wrote to us that she even…

Over the past week, harp seals, harbour seals and belugas have been sighted along the north shore of the St.…

Sunny days, seabirds flying gracefully over the river as they forage for food, reflections in the crystal clear water and…

A blue whale venturing near the coast, seals resting on blocks of ice, a solitary beluga that shows its tail…

Despite the arctic temperatures of the past week, the marine animals of the St. Lawrence do not seem to have…

On the horizon, on the ice and in the waves, every week is different than the one before. Few marine…

It’s a white January morning and the wintry wind is blowing across the river when a local resident sitting cosily…

After causing a sensation two weeks ago with a remarkable presence in Percé and a few appearances in the Côte-Nord…

During the end-of year holiday season, the waters of the St. Lawrence quietly became cloaked in a sheet of ice…

A pleasant visit to the St. Lawrence this week makes one want to hum the tune “Blue Christmas.” Not for…

This week, winter lovers were able to take advantage of the short, sunny days to admire seals, belugas, minke whales…

The day is calm with a quiet whisper of a wind, while out in the bay, a few dark spots…

This week, a few humpback whales were still present in the St. Lawrence and residents were even treated to an…

As fluffy snowflakes invaded eastern Quebec and a white blanket quietly covered the ground, marine mammals continued on with their…

As winter approaches, migratory whale species are slowly beginning to leave. Although humpback whales are becoming more scarce, the waters…

Whether on a boat, at the docks or on shore, the echos of blowing whales can be heard. From humpback…

Whether watching through their binoculars, through the lens of their camera or with their own two eyes while squinting from…

One might think that the roller coaster temperatures of autumn are hardly conducive to marine mammal sightings. However, this is…

A dozen or so humpback whales have been observed in Gaspé Bay over the past week. A few individuals approach…

Whether it’s pods of white-sided dolphins repeatedly leaping out of the water, breaching minke whales or a blue whale blowing…

Mariners are well aware that in fall, storms often produce strong winds from the east or northeast. While some enthusiasts…

This week, all up and down the St. Lawrence, humpback whales are topping the lists of observations, along with other…

This past week was marked by the presence of fog almost all across the St. Lawrence. Mingan Islands, La Malbaie,…

Out on the water, the mild conditions over the last few days have allowed for the observation of a number…

It is a beautiful evening of observation, a magnificent sunset, a refreshing breeze, a most grandiose panorama. The eyes turned…

This week in the St. Lawrence, giants of all colours amazed young and old observers alike. From grey seals to…

This week, there was action in the St. Lawrence! In addition to the usual species that seem to be just…

Everyone was surprised this week when not one, but two endangered species ventured into the St. Lawrence Estuary: one North…

Between Tadoussac and Kegaska, Route 138 hugs the coast of Quebec’s Côte-Nord region for over 850 kilometres. Dotted with magnificent…

After the pioneering belugas that ventured into Baie des Ha! Ha! last week, this week it is the humpbacks’ turn to…

Belugas made headlines this week when a group of a dozen or so individuals was observed in Baie des Ha! Ha!…

When it comes to marine mammals, sometimes no two days are alike. For several weeks, a resident of Tadoussac had been…

There are enormous benefits to working and living in whale country.  Now my home base, Tadoussac is a tourist destination for…

A certain enchantment can sometimes develop between whales and the naturalists who observe them. For naturalist and wildlife photographer Renaud…

Belugas took full advantage of their first day of calm in the Saguenay Fjord. Many light-coloured backs were present in…

From the small harbour porpoise to the titanic blue whale: the wide range of sightings offered by the St. Lawrence…

Exuberant, splashy, and ubiquitous, humpback whales sometimes tend to turn our attention away from other cetaceans. And not only when…

Sometimes you have to get up at the crack of dawn if you want to be rewarded with exciting observations.…

Do pilot whales impatiently look forward to spring just to cross paths with amateur cetologist René Roy? One thing is…

Small white backs speckled the St. Lawrence with their presence this week. Thursday, May 12, at the ferry terminal in…

From Montréal to Sept-Îles and Gaspésie, there’s been a lot of talk about minke whales this week. While these small…

This week, the most amazing marine mammal sighting is undoubtedly the presence of a polar bear in the Gaspé Peninsula.…

They may be the smallest representatives of the rorqual family, but minke whales have been getting a lot of attention…

On Saturday, while scanning the Estuary through her binoculars, one local resident saw a funny-looking white spot from the rental…

Armed with his camera, wildlife photographer Renaud Pintiaux sets up on the shore of Cap de Bon-Désir this past Monday.…

The excitement is palpable this week on the shores of the St. Lawrence! For the past few days, the same…

There’s been a lot of action in the Gaspé this week! In addition to spotting harbour seals every day in…

We know where H858, also known as Queen, and H879 spent their holidays! No, these two humpbacks did not send…

After a long winter, residents are beginning to see patches of open water in the St. Lawrence’s coat of ice…

Monday evening, from the window of her home in Sept-Îles, a local resident peers outside to admire the blazing sky…

Cetaceans in sight for the first time weeks! On February 25, it was from the docks in Les Escoumins that…

Between two snowstorms, all eyes turn to the waters of the St. Lawrence, scanning the horizon for marine mammals. It…

When the north winds quiet down, the surface of the St. Lawrence ends up looking like a mirror, frozen solid…

So many pinnipeds in this chilly week of February! That’s what several observers from the Côte-Nord region have been telling…

No backs, no spouts, not even the shadow of a tail. Zero, zip, zilch. “No whales this week,” a number…

On the St. Lawrence, it’s ice and more ice as far as the eye can see! In the Gaspé, where…

Do you see what I see? Between the frigid winds, snow squalls and ice floes forming on the St. Lawrence,…

A polar cold snap swept across Quebec this week, bringing with it blustery winds, thick fog and fresh snow, adding…

“Cré-moé, cré-moé pas, quelque part en Alaska, y a un phoque qui s'ennuie en maudit” (Believe it or not, somewhere…

As the year draws to a close, fireplaces are crackling, winds are whipping and Quebec’s landscapes are gradually being covered…

Between a winter storm, pounding winds and turbulent waters, this week’s weather conditions made it difficult to observe marine mammals.…

Clearly, Saturday was an eventful day in Gaspé Bay. On Saturday morning, two humpback whales were breaching repeatedly off the…

Friday morning, from the top of the dunes in Tadoussac, an avid birder spots some splashing in the middle of…

“It’s been a quiet week for whales,” admits a resident of Percé, “but grey seals have been abundant. From our…

In summer, harbour porpoises are often seen moving in large groups of up to several dozen individuals. This time of…

As the mercury drops, the weather grows harsher and boats are being docked for the winter, whales are setting out…

After being present in large numbers in the Estuary this summer, the whales now seem to be heading east and…

Through his spotting scope, a birder posted at the Tadoussac dunes suspects he saw an unusual visitor on Sunday. The…

On this Thanksgiving Monday afternoon, a group of kayakers is quietly paddling toward the dock at L'Anse-de-Roche when they hear…

Thousands of successive leaps over the surface of a sparkling sea. White-sided dolphins were present by the hundreds off Port-Cartier…

In this final week of September, marine mammal sightings are slowly petering out with the end of the tourist season.…

This week has been tinged with a majestic full moon and temperatures reminiscent of balmy summer evenings. With the onset…

Across Quebec, colder weather is gradually setting in. Northerly winds are beginning to blow, announcing the arrival of fall and…

On September 5, 2021, i.e. the Sunday before Labour Day, the excitement was palpable in Tadoussac. With over 500 visitors…

A narwhal that thinks it’s a beluga, unidentifiable humpbacks and minke whales in search of recognition. This week, the whales…

This week, we were able to admire the milky blue of a mist-laden sky, the dark bluish-black waters of the…

This week in the St. Lawrence was rich in sightings both magical and emotional: the return of Siam to the…

“It’s awesome out there! There are humpbacks, fins, minkes... It’s non-stop!” exclaims photographer Renaud Pintiaux. At high tide in the…

It was a bountiful week on the St. Lawrence this week, with spectacular marine mammal viewing to locals and visitors…

Season after season, tide after tide, the St. Lawrence River is like a beating heart. Marine currents, prey availability, and…

Whether you’re on the shores of the St. Lawrence or sailing in its waters, there’s always a chance for a…

The sun is setting over the beach in Les Bergeronnes and the sky is a palette of pinkish hues. With…

Porpoises, seals, sharks, small fish and seabirds... even when big blasts are conspicuous by their absence, the St. Lawrence remains…

“It’s tough to find a good weather window this week!” rants René Roy, collaborator for the Mingan Island Cetacean Study…

Wednesday morning, just as the team from the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) begins its workday, time stands still for…

As I’m driving down Highway 132, my eye is suddenly drawn out to sea. From the dark, rolling water spews…

“The capelin are rolling like crazy here in the Gaspé,” says one observer. “At least ten humpbacks have been tallied…

Friday, May 28: It’s barely the crack of dawn on the dunes of Tadoussac when Laetitia from the Tadoussac Bird…

While some observers, with their eyes glued to the water, are thrilled to see the white backs of belugas and…

While large whales are still mostly absent in the St. Lawrence, minke whales are taking the opportunity to steel the…

It is perhaps the least known marine mammal species in the St. Lawrence. And for good reason: sightings are occasional…

Side by side, two minke whales swim off Pointe Noire near the town of Baie-Sainte-Catherine. One of them is clearly…

Porpoises are usually expected in these parts beginning in late June. But this year, at least two harbour porpoises have…

On April 15, a seasonal resident of Pointe-des-Monts takes advantage of the mild weather in April to open his chalet…

The island of Newfoundland forms an obstacle between the Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. If you’re a whale…

Every spring in late March or early April, the smallest of the rorquals is usually the first of the seasonal…

One of the challenges of whale watching is how long it takes for but a fraction of a body to…

On the other end of the line, his voice cracks with excitement. Jean Roy is the owner of Gaspé-based cruise…

In eastern Quebec, the weather is getting milder, migrating birds are beginning to arrive, and icebreakers are freeing the waters…

After a fairly mild winter, the St. Lawrence, parts of which have been ice-covered only for a few weeks even…

Off Les Bergeronnes, a herd of forty to fifty belugas frolic. GREMM Scientific Director and beluga expert Robert Michaud interrupts…

Whale and seal sightings are scarce these days. Over the course of the past week, we’ve received reports of a…

Two large rorquals sparked a good deal of excitement this week: a humpback whale in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park…

Between the snow squalls, a small group of belugas weaves its way through the ice floes off Les Bergeronnes on…

“I’ve never seen so many seals on this side of the peninsula,” exclaims one observer posted in the Gaspé town…

In winter, the majority of humpback whales that frequent the St. Lawrence are believed to be hundreds of kilometres away,…

As one might expect during the winter, whale sightings are becoming increasingly scarce. A few belugas and scattered large spouts…

One of the challenges of observing whales is the long dives that the animals take. The lives of whales take…

The 2019-2020 holiday season had been particularly busy with sightings, to the point that we published a map of the…

Observers are simply astonished to report the continued presence of minke whales, humpbacks and fin whales once again this week.…

Its bushy whiskers glisten in the afternoon sunlight. Its little head approaches a rock. For a minute or so, the…

For residents of the Gaspé, whales are still entertaining observers, while elsewhere sightings are becoming increasingly rare. On November 28…

When passing close to shore, minke whales can swim lazily or slice through the water like rockets. These days, observers…

Minke and humpback whales are soaring in the air these days, while other members of their species bustle about at…

Late in the day on November 9, a symphony of spouts resonates off the coast of Cap-aux-Os in the Gaspé…

If you are a seasoned observer (read: hundreds of hours of observation at a minimum) and weather conditions allow, certain…

A white beluga swims with a darker-skinned beluga at its side. Most likely a mother and her calf. The two…

From Cap de Bon-Désir in Les Bergeronnes, Renaud Pintiaux counts two humpbacks and eight fin whales through his binoculars on…

In the past few days, the whale-watching cruise season has ended, both on the North Shore and in the Gaspé Peninsula.…

As Quebec slowly gets deeper into autumn, foliage reaches its peak and the wind gusts and rain grow more intense,…

This past week in the St. Lawrence Estuary, it was a funny-looking rounded black back with a V-shaped breath that…

Early fall is the best time of year for whales!” says Renaud Pintiaux, who has been watching cetaceans nearly every…

“What? Dolphins? Here?” wonders one reader. For many people, when the talk turns to dolphins, the first thing that comes…

One after the other, cavernous blows burst into the air, leaving six white, cylindrical columns that slowly fade into oblivion.…

In summertime, are you the type of person who returns year after year to the same campsite or same chalet,…

Raging winds over the St. Lawrence have been stirring up waves there since August 25. Landbound observers scan the sea,…

There are pictures you only take once in your life. This one comes to us from off the coasts of…

The largest animal on Earth – even bigger than the largest dinosaur – the blue whale impresses with its sheer…

On August 4, a speckled back contrasts with the white backs of belugas swimming below the Pointe-Noire land observation platform…

Atlantic white-sided dolphins by the hundreds, fin whales by the dozens, acrobatic humpbacks: observers in the Gaspé have had plenty…

Have you ever heard a minke whale feeding at the surface? What a ruckus! An explosive spout is heard and,…

July 9: Off the coast of Matane, a humpback whale takes a dive. All eyes focus on its black-and-white tail;…

The number of observers on the water and on shore is on the upswing. However, some days, despite all their…

July 1, Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park. In the dusty light at the end of the day, light breaths appear for a…

After a week brimming with observations, local residents have noted a slow-down in whale activity in recent days. Is the…

Witnessing a whale accompanied by a baby – also known as a calf – brings observers great joy. But when…

With the return of warmer weather, kayakers and boaters are setting out to go fishing, enjoy the saline air or…

It’s not just the humpback whale in Montréal that’s making waves! On June 1, an observer takes advantage of a…

Five greyish-blue backs contrast with the still snow-capped Chic-Chocs in the Gaspé. A black back near the bridges of Québec…

The jagged black-and-white tails of humpback whales are prompting shouts of joy from observers in Les Bergeronnes, Franquelin and Port-Cartier’s Rivière-Pentecôte sector this…

Observers occasionally send us some of their whale photos. Depending on the species, GREMM’s team examines these photos in the…

During the summer months, thirteen species of whales feed in the rich waters of the St. Lawrence. Some species are…

For cetacean enthusiasts, April is synonymous with the return of these great migrants. Increasing numbers of them are coming to…

From Haute-Côte-Nord to Charlevoix, belugas continue to delight observers. On April 24, a herd of about seven was spotted swimming…

April 15: “I’m watching a herd of belugas entering the Saguenay right now,” remarks Renaud Pintiaux on the other end…

In the course of our round of calls, most of our observers say they are delighted to be seeing migrating…

"Finally, our first observation of 2020!” writes in an observer residing in Cap-des-Rosiers in the Gaspé Peninsula. On March 29, a…

We received the first report for 2020 of a minke whale in the St. Lawrence! It was an individual out…

“72!” That’s how many seals our collaborator Laeticia Desbordes is lucky enough to observe and carefully tally early this week…

The engines of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Amundsen vibrate beneath the feet of researchers hailing from a dozen…

When you’re passionate about whales, you really are. For the past fifteen years, Renaud Pintiaux has been a volunteer, employee,…

Pointe-des-Monts, February 8: You don’t need a thermometer to know the air is frigid: sea smoke hangs over the St.…

Before heading south to more temperate climates, let’s take a brief look at sightings here in the St. Lawrence. Posted…

Humpback whales travel to warm Caribbean waters to give birth, while North Atlantic right whales calve in the waters of…

"The ice is starting to form": this observation is being made almost everywhere along the St. Lawrence of late. Its…

Blues, fins, humpbacks. Minke whales. Belugas. Even harbour porpoises! Not to mention thousands of harp seals and harbour seals. The…

With the onset of winter, observations are becoming fewer and farther between. Most cetaceans have migrated to the Caribbean or…

November 27: In GREMM’s (Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals) offices in Tadoussac, staff members are busy working…

With the short days of November and the appearance of the first ice, observers on the water are growing more…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

November 20, Cap de Bon-Désir in Les Bergeronnes: our collaborator Renaud Pintiaux settles down to take a few pictures of…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

For his last outing of the season, a recreational fisherman sets out in La Tabatière, in Quebec’s Basse-Côte-Nord region. While his…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

This article is part of a series of portraits of people involved in some way with whales on the North…

As the number of eyes scanning the water decreases, the number of sightings reported is also on the decline. Are…

Two observers, one in Les Escoumins (north shore), the other in Baie-des-Sables (south shore), asked the following question this week:…

Seven black-and-white tails rise into the air one after the other before disappearing into the dark river. “It’s a ballet…

Perhaps because they prefer coastal habitats, minke whales are one of the most frequently observed cetacean species in the St.…

A three-way ballet… a race in which body touches body. All around the massive but elegant blue whales, water splashes,…

The sighting map appears a little sparse this week. Have all the whales left? Not necessarily. Weather conditions prevented many…

A long-time observer and former resident of Tadoussac sets out on a whale-watching cruise on September 1. The skyscape reflects…

August 28: A bright-eyed naturalist returns to the wharf in Percé. No sooner does the boat leave the docks when…

We often talk about endangered species, but we rarely emphasize how well other species are doing. And humpback whale populations…

August 7: At the lookout in Baie Sainte-Marguerite in the Saguenay Fjord National Park, a naturalist scans the bay for…

The pointed head and long, slender body rise to the sky like a rocket before the animal lands heavily on…

Calves spend their time learning to swim, hunt and move with agility by imitating their mother and other adults. Within…

Last week, it was white-sided dolphins in Gaspé Bay. This week, killer whales, the largest species in the dolphin family,…

Measuring 2 to 2.7 metres long, their toned bodies are black, white, grey and yellowish-beige. Atlantic white-sided dolphins! Fifteen or…

Although whales were scarce in the Bonaventure Island sector last July, this year they have been plentiful. “We're spoiled,” says…

In calm weather, the spouts of large rorquals can be heard hundreds of metres away, but above all, they can…

Le 16 juin en après-midi, la mer est lisse et silencieuse devant les Grandes-Bergeronnes. Soudain, deux larges dos noirs apparaissent.…

Nearshore reports of “large whales” picked up in intensity this week. In Godbout, in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region, humpback whales venture…

The hastily composed email betrays the excitement of its sender. The observer just photographed a fin whale with a particularly…

From the Gaspé to the Côte-Nord, minke whales have been appearing in the waves in recent days. In the St.…

In Sept-Îles, in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region, a long-time observer sets sails on a friend's boat for the first time this season.…

Tuque, mittens, binoculars, one field guide for birds and another for whales: a couple is gearing up for a road…

March 24: “They’re back!” says our collaborator Renaud Pintiaux. From a coastal road in Port-au-Saumon, not far from Saint-Siméon, he…

“My first whale for 2019!” exclaims a whale-watching outfitter in the Gaspé Peninsula. His first observation was made through his…

On March 6, while walking on the beach near the Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, an observer noted the presence of harbour seals…

The mild weather in the early part of the week offered comfortable conditions for venturing outside and contemplating the river.…

Off the Gaspé Peninsula town of Newport, 50 or so seals bask on the ice. To observe them, it’s best to…

A tiny village of just over 300 inhabitants, Godbout is located in the Côte-Nord (North Shore) region between Baie-Comeau and…

It was a perfect day for whale-watching. Light winds, calm sea, light conditions that were neither blinding nor too dim.…

A herd of harp seals is enjoying a break in the ice cover off the docks in Les Escoumins. The…

The list of observations this week reads more like a weather report: sea smoke, ice floes, gusts, snow squalls, howling…

January 12: After weeks of seeing nothing but drifting ice and seals on the move, a large spout draws the…

As 2018 was winding down, one observer in Bonaventure in the Gaspé Peninsula observes three tall puffs, all appearing at…

Cap-d’Espoir, December 15. The black backs of two humpback whales emerge from the dark water. Their rounded spouts and the…

December 8: Gaspé Bay is glowing in the sun. A balloon-shaped spout erupts from the water surface, followed by a…

"They're breaching!" exclaims an innkeeper from Forillon, in the Gaspé Peninsula. It's December 3 and the week is off to…

The extreme weather of the past few days has not been very conducive to marine observations. In addition to repeated…

“Three big blues!” exclaims an observer. He observes the three majestic animals Sunday morning 3 or 4 nautical miles south…

We all have our favourite species, including our favourite whales. For our collaborator Renaud Pintiaux, “The sperm whale is a…

“Can killer whales be seen in Gaspé Bay?” asks a kayaker out at sea with a group near Grande-Grave, off…

Yesterday a visitor at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) saw several belugas across the Saguenay Fjord through light flurries.…

The cruise ship Narval III of the whale-watching company Croisières Baie de Gaspé docked for the last time on October 11, and…

On the wharf used by the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, a thin coat of frost glistens. “Time to migrate south!”…

On September 23, no sooner does the cruise begin when the captain yells out “Breach!” Off Les Bergeronnes, the 15-metre long…

Thirty-three! Thirty-three times, a minke whales breached before a dumbstruck observer standing on the pink granite of Pointe Rouge overlooking Tadoussac…

With a hesitation in her step, she walks down the ramp to the boat launch in the Tadoussac marina, where a Zodiac…

Just before students head back to school and knitting season returns, the long Labour Day weekend has allowed thousands of…

With her tuque snug over her ears, one observer marvels at three gannets as they dive in unison off the…

"It's been a dream season," says a captain/naturalist as he shares a video of a sperm whale he shot off…

“In 51 years of watching whales, I’ve never seen that!” At the end of the line, the voice of our…

July 31: A pointed snout pierces the surface and rises like a skyscraper out of the waters off Les Bergeronnes.…

They're about one-third the size of an adult and still stick close to their mothers' sides. Calves of several species…

Our observer from Franquelin notes the presence of four minke whales and four porpoises on July 21. A little farther…

July 7: Having made the trek from Newcastle, England to watch whales, an observer sets up post on the rocks…

"Unbelievable! It's hot even out on the water," exclaims a GREMM volunteer research assistant participating in the photo-ID program for…

Does this photo show five whales or six? Their gaping mouths are about to clamp down on masses of quivering…

No doubt about it, everyone who has been plying the offshore waters of the Gaspé region lately has one word…

The Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) team, based in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, is geared up for its 40th season on the water!…

"For a number of people, the weather these past few days has been the motivating factor to get out and…

Prével (Gaspésie), Sept-Îles, Portneuf-sur-Mer (Côte-Nord): "Waves of silver" say some local residents when talking about a particular time of the…

Is it possible to identify an all-white beluga? Certainly, especially when it shows a major spinal deformity like Pascolio! This…

May 6: no sooner had the sun risen when one observer spotted two belugas in the morning light off La…

"Spring's arrived!" writes in our collaborator from the town of Franquelin, who has finally seen whales in front of her…

From the distant white dots identified every morning at the mouth of the Saguenay to the close-up views of animals…

Our collaborator from Pointe-des-Monts confirms: "no whales in sight, but there were "sea wolves" by the ton!" speaking of his…

April 11: Young grays and white adults are scattered around the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord. "At last," sighs one…

The most recent snowfalls this past week give the impression that winter will never end and that spring is reluctant…

Sunny skies and rising temperatures are bringing joy and marking the return of the whales! On March 23, in the…

This week's observations revolve around seals! In Franquelin and Tadoussac, just one harp seal and one gray seal are seen,…

Before tackling this question, here are a few tidbits regarding our St. Lawrence whales. Between 30 and 50 belugas were…

The lives of seals are split between the sea and the land. Excellent swimmers, they hunt their prey under water…

On the afternoon of January 8, an observer is driving down the "Whale Route" toward Sept-Îles. Upon her arrival at…

The year 2017 is winding down. What were the major headlines from this year's News from Afield? [caption id="attachment_30002" align="alignright"…

After long hours spent this past summer scanning the open sea for whales and pointing them out to visitors, an…

"On December 3, I spotted two whales off Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé," writes in one observer, delighted to be seeing whales in December.…

The week goes by and with each passing day we receive more sightings from our network of collaborators throughout Quebec.…

On November 17, gusts of up to 90 km/h whipped across the shores of the Côte-Nord region. The raging, whitecap-speckled St.…

At first glance, the St. Lawrence in November appears to be devoid of life. Apart from merchant ships and ferries,…

An impressive scar forms zebra-like stripes on the right flank of one of the three fin whales seen off Tadoussac…

This past week, it has been mostly minke whales that have been observed. About fifteen of them have been at…

Large golden-brown spots can be seen when a fin whale appears – for example, one of the eight individuals observed…

On October 13, in the heart of the Marine Park, a harbour porpoise surprises observers with its whitish colour recalling…

Parks Canada's land-based observation sites adjacent to the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park are closing down for the season; meanwhile, the…

"Extraordinary," exclaims a Franquelin-based collaborator while watching in awe as a minke whale leaps into the air. It repeats the…

Almost nonchalantly, a basking shark glides by the boat of a resident of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé. Its high dorsal fin betrays the…

Early in the morning of September 17, under an overcast sky and in glassy seas, two observers from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts are…

By Sonia Villalon A text from Sonia Villalon Every species has its preferences in terms of prey and this week's…

This seems to be the best way to describe the whale season to date. [caption id="attachment_27257" align="alignright" width="250"] Tingley and…

"Harbour porpoises are everywhere, every day," reports a collaborator from Franquelin. These cetaceans, which measure 1 to 2 m long, are…

A whale-watching boat in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park encounters the fin whale Caïman and her young on August 16.…

At a time when identity and immigration issues are tormenting Quebec and the rest of the planet, a fresh wind…

Whales reveal just a tiny fraction of their bodies before quickly disappearing again, leaving observers puzzled as to who they…

On August 9, the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) team sets out on the water, taking advantage of a lull.…

"This summer has been a busy one in Sept-Îles!" exclaims a resident observer from Gallix, near Sept-Îles. Since 1989, he…

"Is it possible to see a killer whale in Saint-Siméon in the Charlevoix region?", asks a camper who notices a…

Photo-identifying the minke whales of the Estuary is one of the objectives of the team at Mériscope, which is based…

"They come here to eat."... a phrase often repeated by captains and naturalists from the get-go when speaking to the…

Good news: five newborn humpback whales have been sighted so far off the Gaspé Peninsula: "a figure that is already…

From a vantage point on Bonaventure Island off the Gaspé Peninsula, a park warden spots two humpback whales on June…

"Good thing we at least have them!" joke several captains and naturalists from the Tadoussac – Les Escoumins region, referring…

At the foot of the mountains rising above the Fjord, small groups of harbour seals lie on the rocks. They…

They're back! Whether it's in Baie-Comeau on the North Shore, or in Chandler in the Gaspé Peninsula, the capelin are…

Off L'Anse-Saint-Georges in the Gaspé, a tour operator observes two spouts on May 24. The mushroom shape leads him to…

Dark skin, long pectoral fins, a round head resembling that of a beluga, and a short beak: the pilot whale…

Thousands of long-tailed ducks line the waters of the Estuary. Skilled divers, they plunge to depths of up to sixty…

For a number of whale cruise operators in the Tadoussac region, the offshore season debuted the last weekend of April.…

A herd of belugas are swimming in tight formation off Pointe-aux-Outardes; they number about 40. Behind them, flocks of birds…

Belugas, blue whales, humpbacks, minke whales, three species of seals ... the variety of marine mammals seen in the past…

These same words were on the lips of a number of observers! Here they are, back in the St. Lawrence…

One, two… three spouts appear and remain suspended on the horizon for a few seconds. They're about four kilometres offshore.…

The snow crab season is underway, which is synonymous with the start of the "crab dinner" season. For some, this is…

March 20 marked the spring equinox, when day and night are of equal duration, and will end with the summer…

Winter is a relatively calm period for marine mammal enthusiasts. Nevertheless, many observers stare out to sea, constantly on the…

February 28: from his "lookout" – i.e. the porch of his house – a member of the Marine Mammal Interpretation…

On February 23, off the village of Godbout, a large rorqual approaches the coast. Its long back glides across the…

Their gaping mouth expands like an accordion thanks to the skin folds of the throat and belly, while their baleen…

On February 4, a resident in the Godbout region on the North Shore captures on film the tail of a…

Surprisingly, there are a handful of enthusiasts who continue to practise this sport even in the middle of winter in…

"Beluga-watching in winter!" exclaims a Whales Online subscriber after reading the Field Notes Still Plenty of Belugas on the Upper…

Measuring 15 to 20 metres long and weighing in at 35 to 100 tonnes, large rorquals swim beneath the water…

January 18: hundreds of Barrow's goldeneye take wing amidst the ice floes off Cap de Bon-Desir. They're not alone. The…

Harp seals by the hundreds on the ice at Sainte-Flavie and Pointe-au-Père, groups of harp seals off Les Escoumins, gray…

Actually, it's harp seals moving around energetically in the water. Solo, in pairs, by the handful or by the dozen,…

It is always surprising to encounter whales that are believed to have left for the Atlantic as soon as autumn…

As the first snow falls on the St. Lawrence, some whales continue to behave as if summer has never ended.…

"The whales are on a reproduction strike", jokes a News from Afield collaborator following her observation of two humpback whales…

The fall harvest has been bountiful" writes in a St. Lawrence regular, visibly excited following all the large rorquals he…

By Olivia Capeillere Since the beginning of fall, large rorquals have been everywhere along the St. Lawrence Estuary, but this…

It's getting colder offshore; the season is drawing to a close. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful, with regard to both…

By Olivia Capeillere As we enter into early fall, observers everywhere along the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf have been…

By Olivia Capeillere Autumn has truly arrived. Offshore, chilly temps are on the menu and so are the whales! Blue…

What diversity in the St. Lawrence! Observers have an extremely diverse list of species to report these past few days,…

It is said that the St. Lawrence is one of the best places in the world to observe blue whales,…

It seems that late August is bringing its fair share of unique moments to observers on the St. Lawrence. In…

When whales surface, they show only one twentieth of their body. One should therefore expect to see just their back…

The past few days have been emotionally rich for observers along the St. Lawrence. First, the presence of a narwhal…

On July 29, the GREMM team observed a narwhal in a group of belugas off the coast of Trois-Pistoles. A…

The stories coming in this week from our News from Afield observers are exciting; not only is the diversity impressive,…

It's a well known fact: the St. Lawrence is a vast, open-air buffet for cetaceans. The abundance of prey is…

Week after week, the same pattern has been emerging throughout the St. Lawrence. Rorquals are very much present, sometimes observed…

In recent days the waters of the St. Lawrence have been host to a variety of marine mammals, but humpback…

Observers at sea and on land are excited, and for good reason! The St. Lawrence River is teeming with life,…

Minke whales are now a rather common sight in the St. Lawrence, sometimes alone, sometimes a half dozen or more…

The weather this week has not been conducive to observations in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The weather…

Emotions are running high as a new season gets under way. Cruises in the Gaspé Bay region began operating on…

Pairs of harbour porpoises in Franquelin, four fin whales off of Tadoussac, a large rorqual in Baie-des-Sables in the Gaspé…

Great news for those eagerly awaiting the return of whales in the St. Lawrence: cruise operators, land-based observers and researchers…

In recent days, observers have been as captivated by life at sea as in the air! Great whales do not…

As migratory species, whales take advantage of the rich St. Lawrence waters in the summer to feed. Every summer, they enter…

After an abundance of reportings last week, observers have become quieter of late! Exceptions include a cruise in the Gaspé…

For the first time in several months, a considerable number of News from Afield observers have observations to report. First,…

Observations of small groups of belugas have been reported here and there since the beginning of March, but this week,…

We had been waiting for this announcement for some time, namely the first irrefutable signs of spring. On the morning…

"The view is endless!" reports one observer in the Gaspé region, already getting the whale-watching boats ready for the upcoming…

It was with contagious enthusiasm that a boat captain from Les Escoumins phoned the Whales Online team: "I could have…

Though ice is increasingly present in the St. Lawrence and Gaspé Bay is partially frozen, other sectors remain ice-free, making…

Don't be surprised: February is a quiet period in terms of the presence of whales in the St. Lawrence. Nevertheless,…

"We could hear their bellowing from our porch," says a Franquelin-based collaborator of News from Afield, referring to the cries…

They appear in the form of black bubbles at the water surface. Adult harp seals give the impression of wearing…

Update – January 20, 2016: Return to Northern Waters and Media Coverage of the Project! According to the most recent…

L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Saguenay Fjord, with the wind chill it feels like -28°C… This temperature won't prevent ice fishing enthusiasts from kicking…

..to late November. Our collaborator in Franquelin sees her first harp seal of the winter. In the following weeks, she…

On the afternoon of November 18, a News from Afield collaborator and Gaspé Bay whale-watching employee in summers ends his…

Fin whales in the Gaspé and Côte-Nord regions, minke whales and harbour porpoises off Charlevoix and the Côte-Nord, belugas at…

One might think that at the end of October, the St. Lawrence Estuary is deserted... well think again! Autumn sea…

These are the last trips out to sea for tour operators of Gaspé Bay, and the whales are plentiful! On…

A large column rises high into the air. "Fin whale or blue whale?" asks our Franquelin-based collaborator on the morning…

One would think it's still summer with all the sightings reported from our collaborators in the Gaspé. Between the villages…

...emphasizes a Percé-based captain, referring to this recent week of observations. Île Bonaventure is surrounded by numerous marine mammals: hundreds…

A dynamic environment It is a well known fact that whales come to the St. Lawrence to feed. Forget the…

Starting with the Cloridorme region in the Gaspé where "almost 40 blue whales are present," according to Richard Sears, director…

These large seabirds, the largest in the North Atlantic with wingspans of up to two metres, owe their scientific name…

To observe almost a hundred belugas in Les Escoumins; nearly a dozen blue whales in the Gaspé, including B105, which…

In French, seals are sometimes referred to by the old term "loups marins", or sea wolves, which in some regions…

Researcher Anik Boileau, director of the Centre d’Éducation et de Recherche de Sept-îles (CERSI), based in Sept-Îles, observed a pair…

During an aerial survey on August 7, a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) spots over twenty…

At Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, some thirty fin whales are present, both "known" faces and newcomers. Are they easy to spot? More or…

Large herds of gray seals off Tadoussac are attracting increasing attention. Even if only their heads stick out above the…

July 20, 2015: Long whiskers appear on the water surface; a bearded seal startles a photographer at the marina in…

"Might things be picking up in the region?" enquires one of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) team members after…

On the afternoon of Friday, July 10, the GREMM team aboard the Bleuvet, while tracking belugas offshore, had a surprising…

Photos taken between La Tabatière and Gros-Mécatina in the Basse-Côte-Nord region (in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Newfoundland) confirm…

A black "iris" shape on the right lobe and a white "seven" in the centre of the tail; cat eyes…

The last time "Le Survivant" was seen was on November 23, 2014, off the coast of Cap de Bon-Désir in…

The "fishermen" positioned nearly 3500 saplings in four days, though they purposely neglected to "set the trap" by making sure…

"Almost in real time", emphasizes Robert Michaud as he calls the Whales On Line team on April 8. Indeed, barely…