Nostalgia for Whales
Big blasts off the coast of Franquelin, several large rorquals in Gaspésie and gatherings of belugas in the estuary… it was a real whale parade this week! Seals were also part of the scene, some resting on the rocks, others swimming offshore. For seasonal staff that spent the summer working near the coast, nostalgia is in the air as the season draws to a close. We must savour these last days we get to spend with marine mammals!
Public consultations for the Marine Park expansion project are underway! Between now and December 13, you can share your opinion by completing an online survey or by attending one of the participatory events.
Large rorquals in Franquelin and Gaspé Bay
Big blasts off the coast: fins, humpbacks or blues? Sometimes, this is a question that remains unanswered. Weather conditions and/or distance can blur the diagnostic characteristics of each species’ plumes of mist . Other times, a little patience pays off and the whale approaches the shore, at which point the observer can admire the bluish-grey back of the blue whale, the dorsal fin sitting atop a hump of the humpback whale or, or a telltale scar, like that of the fin whale Zipper.
Between Baie-Comeau and Franquelin, large blows revealed the presence of eight or perhaps even more large rorquals, though they could not be identified. Two humpbacks were seen in the area, as were two or three fin whales feeding in the swarms of sand lance. Minke whales, harbour porpoises and grey seals round out the picture along the coasts.
The presence of more than five humpbacks, a fin whale and a blue whale was reported from Gaspé Bay. There are also dozens of harbour porpoises, a handful of minke whales and, of course, grey and harbour seals.
In the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, large rorquals were observed less often this past week, but that’s not to say they were completely absent. A naturalist who was wrapping up her stint in Tadoussac ventured aboard an excursion on the river: “We saw grey seals amidst the big waves, as well as harbour seals, belugas, minke whales, the humpback Pixel and the fin whale Ti-Croche. I would like to believe that they came just to say farewell.” A nice way to end a summer spent in proximity to marine mammals!
Pilot whales in the gulf?
Vigie marine, a tool used to visualize marine mammal observations, documents the presence of long-finned pilot whalesin the Gulf. Three individuals were supposedly seen on October 22. The long-finned pilot whale is a summer resident of the gulf and an occasional visitor to the estuary. Sightings of the species are more frequent in Nova Scotia, where the Cape Breton Pilot Whale Project conducts research and maintains a photo-ID catalogue of the species.
Measuring 4 to 5 metres long, this large toothed whale is black in colour and has a prominent melon. Its dorsal fin is wider than it is tall and close to the head, while its pectoral fins are sickle shaped. Its spout is inconspicuous. If we disregard the dorsal fin, it could almost pass for a black beluga!
Whale sightings from Côte-Nord and Charlevoix
This past week, we received some messages that are testimony of the love people have for the river and its whales! Here are a few excerpts:
In Saint-Siméon, a local resident is surprised by the recent presence of whales: “Still a few minke whales visiting, but we were also lucky to observe a humpback spyhopping, feeding and swimming on its back at the water surface, just a few metres from shore.”
A resident of Saint-Irénée does not hide her joy when discussing the presence of belugas “We saw a dozen or so last weekend. They were near the coast, in the first third of the river. We were so excited! Pure delight! Now that’s what I call fun!”
In Tadoussac, beluga gatherings surprise two naturalists who got up at the crack of dawn to admire the sunrise. “We saw two minke whales close by and at least 50 belugas in a 180° span! They were blowing incessantly and we were treated to an incredible show that lasted 2 hours. We even heard them vocalize a few times. At the end of our observation session, the belugas were so close to Pointe-Rouge that we could see them through the clear water.”
For her birthday, one observer had the chance to enjoy some interesting sightings at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord. “Four minke whales were feeding in an area of heavy chop, just between Pointe de l’Islet and Pointe Noire. Sometimes we could see a fin, or the ventral grooves, or sometimes the entire rostrum poking out of the water! And, on top of all that, there were lots of belugas whose white skin stood out against the blue of the water.” She mentions in conclusion that it made for a wonderful birthday present!
From Gallix, one marine mammal enthusiast spotted a trio of harbour seals near the mouth of Rivière Sainte-Marguerite. “One was quite close, it seemed to be having fun sniffing the air, raising its head vertically when it popped out of the water. At least that’s what it looked like to me!”
Thanks to all our collaborators!
Special thanks go out to all our observers who share their love for marine mammals with us! Your encounters with cetaceans and pinnipeds are always a pleasure to read and discover.
On the water or from shore, it is your eyes that give life to this column.
Odélie Brouillette
Thalia Cohen-Bacry
Guylaine Côté
Véronique Gélinas
Ninon Lambs
Jade-Audrey Lavergne
Mathieu Marzellière
Yael Medav
Élizaneth Mélis
Diane Ostiguy
Renaud Pintiaux
Chloé Pazart
Pascal Pitre
Andréanne Sylvain
Marielle Vanasse
And to all the others!
Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the following teams that also share their sightings:
Sept-Îles Research and Education Centre (CERSI)
Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM)
Marine Mammal Observation Network (MMON)
Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN)
Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS)
Would you also like to share your observations?
Have you seen any marine mammals in the St. Lawrence? Whether it’s a spout offshore or just a couple of seals, drop us a line and send your photos to [email protected]!
Andréanne Forest
Andréanne Forest is the editor-in-chief of Whales Online since may 2022. After studying in environment and biology, she turned to science communication with the goal of making science both accessible and fun. Andréanne wishes to highlight the process of acquiring knowledge while transmitting the desire to learn.
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