Little Porpoises, Large Spouts

In Sept-Îles, more specifically in Sainte-Marguerite Bay, four harbour porpoises were observed. The winter habitat of this species is not well known, but individuals are believed to move farther offshore to avoid the ice. A common denizen of coastal waters across the Northern Hemisphere, this species travels in groups of 5 to 10 individuals. For this particular observation, the smallest cetaceans in the St. Lawrence were in the company of the largest ones, as a blue whale was blowing not far away, not to mention a fin whale. The latter even approached to within about 1 kilometre of the shore. The same day, a minke whale was also seen.

In Franquelin, the first whale of the season is spotted swimming near the shore. One fascinated local resident had the chance to see the animal’s back, followed by its dorsal fin, from his usual observation site: “I saw a minke whale pass very close to the shoreline!”  This species is believed to winter in the Caribbean and then migrate northward along the US east coast en route to its summer feeding grounds, but without ever gathering in numbers.

Lone individuals poke their heads out of the water here and there. In both Gallix and in Tadoussac, harbour seals were observed from shore.  On the other side of the St. Lawrence, a hundred or so grey seals frolic in Gaspé Bay, more precisely off the beach in Penouille. This species is often observed in shallow waters near the coast.

Weather-wise, every day on the St. Lawrence is a little different… There’s been sun, fog, rain and even a little hail in some places. One day there is calm as far as the eye can see, while the next day one observes the return of a new species, a 100-odd pinnipeds or pods of belugas! Do the exciting observations of the last few weeks in the region foreshadow a summer chock full of cetaceans? We sure hope so!