A Hybrid Rorqual in the St. Lawrence?

Part blue, part fin

It was in Les Bergeronnes that a marine mammal enthusiast made an unusual sighting: “On Sunday afternoon at Cap de Bon-Désir, there was a potentially hybrid large rorqual that came very close to shore. It looks a lot like a fin whale, but something about its colouring was a bit odd.” For one naturalist and wildlife photographer who also saw the large rorqual, there were a number of things that were confusing, including the fin whale-like dorsal. On the other hand, the animal’s size, blowhole, spout and behaviour were more like those of a blue whale. As for the colouring, it seemed mixed. We will have to wait for the opinion of scientists and, who knows, perhaps other observations or even a biopsy before we can confirm the ID.

Belugas in Baie Sainte-Marguerite

From Baie Sainte-Marguerite, the “Window on Belugas” team observed a mixed herd of more than fifteen belugas. A research assistant tells us about this first day that kicks off the new season with a bang: “Some groups of females and young were in the bay while others, including groups of males, were opposite the rest area. Behaviour-wise, we made a most interesting observation amongst the groups of males, with splashing and heads sticking out of the water! There was also a harbour seal that came to pay us a visit. Toward the end, the belugas had come closer to the rest area and we could see them through the clear water!”

As part of the “Window on Belugas” project, images and sounds captured by the beluga brigades are transmitted to a network of land-based observation sites. The naturalists will invite visitors to view belugas like they never have before. Several sites will offer the experience in 2024: Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park, the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector in Sacré-Coeur, the Putep ’t-awt beluga observation site in Cacouna, and the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre in Tadoussac.

Near the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre in Tadoussac, a minke whale has been swimming in the mouth of the fjord almost every day, much to the delight of those who are able to admire it from shore. Sometimes belugas join them, moving in one direction or another at the gates of the Saguenay. On June 18, it was a harbour seal that showed the tip of its nose. Was it the same one that appeared a little later that evening in Tadoussac Bay? Who knows!

Two stars are currently roaming the Marine Park: the fin whale Ti Croche and the humpback whale Irisept. At least for these individuals, we know what species they are!

Where are the whales this week? Observation map

These data were reported by our network of observers. They give an idea of the presence of whales and in no way represent the actual distribution of whales in the St. Lawrence. Just for fun!

Click on the whale or seal icons to discover the species, the number of individuals, additional information or photos of the sighting. To enlarge the map, click on the icon in the top right-hand corner. The map works well on Chrome and Firefox, but not so well on Safari.

To display the list of sightings, click on the icon in the top left-hand corner.

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.