Birds and Marine Mammals, Focus on Gray Seals and… a Jellyfish!

Rain and wind have pummelled the Haute-Côte-Nord region in recent days, but no matter! I’ve been spending a lot of time near the river between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins.

I can’t see any large spouts offshore. The large rorquals seem to have left the area, but things can still change very quickly!

On the other hand, I continue to observe several minke whales, notably near the tip of L’Islet in Tadoussac and off of Cap de Bon-Désir.

Early on the morning of November 18, I’m on the rocks of Cap de Bon-Désir. For once, there’s not the faintest breeze! I hear, then see, several harbour porpoises swimming rather close to shore. I can hear them breathing: short exhalations and inhalations before they dive. A beautiful moment of tranquillity. I also spot a few harp seals and a couple of gray seals. I’ll take this opportunity to share with you a short video montage: footage shot this summer and fall showing these gray seals (close-ups, characteristic behaviour, one herd off Tadoussac and another one interspersed with a few minke whales, etc.). In short, a video illustrating gray seal observations in the Haute-Côte-Nord region throughout the 2016 season “in the field”. For a high-quality resolution, click on the gear in the bottom right hand corner of the screen and then on 720hd.