Magazine
Humpback Whales: Between River and Sky
September 14, 2023 will remain a date forever engraved in my memory. It was a strange and surreal day, Which…
Two Breathtaking Scenes
The slow start to the 2023 season in the Lower Estuary continues, with still very few observations of large whales.…
A Strange Start to the 2023 Season…
I like it when these field notes are representative of our daily observations on the water. It goes without saying…
Return of Tic Tac Toe
To begin these field notes, we first need to travel back in time to September 1999. It was one of…
Exciting Spring Arrivals
Another season is underway, and here I am once again with field notes that you will find posted on this…
Spring Arrivals
Every year, when the month of April kicks off in the Haute-Côte-Nord region, an indescribable emotion begins to flow through…
One Final Outing…
By Renaud Pintiaux, naturalist and wildlife photographer The whale-watching season in the waters between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins ended…
Field Season Debut and the Return of Two Stars: Tic Tac Toe and Ti-Croche!
Back on the water for the 2021 season. It should be a great summer offshore, between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins.…
End-of-season field notes 2017 (part II)
The last trip offshore for the year took place on November 4. Here is the second part of these Field…
The last one from sea
It is the end of the 2018 season on the water but there is still life at sea. It is…
A sperm whale in front of the dunes of Tadoussac
Gloomy weather, but the river is calm on this October 29th as I embark on the Grand Fleuve for a whale-watching excursion.…
Ti-Croche, artiste and a minke whale in the air
A look back at the observations of the last two weeks off Tadoussac. At the end of May, it was…
Start of 2018 season on the St. Lawrence: a beautiful transition!
Whale-watching cruises in the Tadoussac region resumed on April 27. After six months on land, what a joy it is…
End-of-season field notes 2017 (part I)
The field season ended on November 4. But there are still quite noteworthy observations (marine mammals, birds, landscapes) and two…
Minke whale with calf and two fin whales
June 2, 2017. Foray off Tadoussac and an exceptional morning observation! According to my information, this is the first one…
Focus: Harbor Seals of the Saguenay Fjord
In the past few days, spotting and locating minke whales and fin whales off the coast of Tadoussac has proven…
Offshore Season Kicks Off in Tadoussac!
Since May 1, I finally have the pleasure once again to sail the waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary… to…
DL220 off Cap de Bon-Désir!
April 10, 2017. Back on the rocks of Cap de Bon-Désir. Rather quickly, I spot with my binoculars a herd…
First Days of Spring in Haute-Côte-Nord
March 21, 2017. Afternoon of dream at the Cape of Bon-Désir, near Les Bergeronnes. A river ever so serene. As…
Still plenty of belugas on the upper north shore
By Renaud Pintiaux January 17 and 18: I’m back on the rocks of Cape de Bon-Desir. Once again, it’s the…
Start of 2017 in Haute-Côte-Nord: A Fin Whale and a Group of Belugas
By Renaud Pintiaux The year’s off to a great start! January 2: I’ve no sooner arrived at Cap de Bon-Desir,…
End of November: Two Humpbacks and a Survivor!… by Renaud Pintiaux
November 25, 2016, Cap de Bon-Désir: moderate winds from the northeast and a few flurries begin to fall this morning.…
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…
On the Rocks of Cap de Bon-Désir
The season on the water is over, but marine mammals have yet to leave the area! From November 5 to…
Final Trip Offshore for the 2016 Season and an Exceptional Observation!
November 5: we're back on the waters of the Estuary for the last whale-watching cruise of 2016. Shortly after leaving…
Early November and Continuing Action off Tadoussac!
The field season is drawing to a close, and for real this time! Nevertheless, whales are still numerous off Tadoussac…
And the Season Continues!
The offshore season has been extended one week... Awesome! On October 30, ours was the only boat out at sea.…
Focus on Fin Whales
December 9, 2015: from the rocks of Cap de Bon-Desir, I spotted five fin whales with my binoculars and took…
A Special Visitor off Tadoussac
October 17: offshore foray out of Tadoussac. Near Prince Shoal, we first cross paths with several minke whales feeding near…
Zipper, Trou, Gray Seals and Minke Whales
October 13, 2016: With the beautiful autumn light and breathtaking landscapes, it was another splendid trip out to sea from…
Great Diversity off the Coasts of our Villages
The past several days have been quite spectacular off the coasts of our villages. What diversity! There is a strong…
Tail of a Fin Whale
Another beautiful morning on the water off of Tadoussac. Variable cloudiness and calm waters. A pair of fin whales near…
Breaching Minke Whale and Surface Feeding Humpback
More great moments were enjoyed off Tadoussac on the morning of August 25, 2016. Moderate winds from the southwest and…
The Pictures Speak for Themselves
Following a fantastic day off Tadoussac on August 17, 2016, here is an album exceptionally full of photos, all taken…
A Forest of Spouts…
On the morning of August 13, as the tide was rising, we identify a group of fin whales in the…
Cetacean Beauty and Acrobatics
Lots of action off shore in recent days. Of course, there are those rarities that have been observed on several…
Gray Seals, Minke Whales, Fin Whales and Spectacular Scenery
In recent days, we've been observing gatherings of hundreds of gray seals off of Tadoussac. Above them, flocks of herring…
Powerful Spouts, Beaming Sun, Shear Awe… by Renaud Pintiaux
Four to six fin whales have set up camp in recent days in the area between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins.…
Under the Summer Sun: Yogi, a Few Rorquals and a Curious Seal
June 24, 2016: a fantastic trip off of Tadoussac to celebrate Saint-Jean Baptiste Day! Bright sun, light winds. Breathtaking landscapes. Our…
The Power of Fin Whales and the Energy of Minke Whales
On the morning of June 3, as our boat sat motionless for several minutes off the Prince Shoal Lighthouse, two…
At Least Six Fin Whales off Tadoussac
On the morning of May 31, it was a thrill to locate no fewer than six fin whales between Prince…
Five Fin Whales, a Minke Whale in Action and a Festival of Jaegers
On the morning of May 29, we observe five fin whales offshore between Tadoussac and Les Bergeronnes. Their huge blasts…
First trip out to sea
How great it feels to be on the water again! A new season begins... Back to the majestic St. Lawrence,…
Beyond Cap de Bon-Désir, fin whale Bp929…
[caption id="attachment_16956" align="alignright" width="150"] Rorqual commun non reconnu[/caption] On December 5, through my binoculars, I spot five fin whales, two…
Minke Whale Santafin at Cap de Bon-Désir…
Luck and patience. These are the two key words if ones hopes to enjoy interesting sightings of marine mammals from…
Harbour Seal Gathering in Tadoussac
November 30, 2015: Tadoussac: I'm walking on the beach, from Tadoussac Bay to the dunes. At this time of year…
Close of 2015 Season Off the Shores of Tadoussac
It's one of the last trips offshore for the 2015 season. There's a tinge of sadness, for sure, but it's…
Fall Temperatures and Breaching Minke Whale
A strong wind is blowing from the west-southwest today, Monday, October 19. Nevertheless, I have the pleasure of observing a…
A Gorgeous October Morning
The wind is blowing from the northwest. It's a sunny but chilly day. The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking:…
A Ballet of Minke Whales, Gray Seals and Black-legged Kittiwakes
September 10: this morning, calm conditions seem to be reigning off the coast of Tadoussac. This is but an illusion.…
The Great Feast off Tadoussac
The river is calm. The Sun is shining brightly above our heads. A storm looms in the distance, coming from…
From Tadoussac to Les Escoumins, Another Magical Day…
How can we forget that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world when, on this…
Northern gannets steal the show from whales in Tadoussac
In recent days, gannet observations almost overshadow those of whales, at least as far as I'm concerned! They number in…