On September 20th, 2023, our NatHab group set out for our first whale-watching adventure with Essipit Whale Watching Tours. On arrival, we received briefings on getting in and out of the mandatory full-body suits, using colossal plastic bags to protect electronics, and other points before loading into two zodiacs and zooming out into the St. Lawrence.
The water remained a bit choppy after yesterday's crummy weather. It took me a while to puzzle out a system for both protecting my glasses and my camera from the spray while using both; this limited my photography (the next day's are better). My first pic, including other zodiacs (click on any image to enlarge).
Here's a pair of humpback whales -- the tiny dorsal fin belies their true size.
Our other zodiac.
The broad channel (about 25 km / 15.5 mi. ) hosts ocean-going cargo and tour ships here and deeper into Quebec.
Sometimes the whales surfacebarely enough to exhale and get some air.
A dive begins with an arcing posture.
More whale pictures will arrive in the next blog post.
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| It's chilly out on the water! |
Our afternoon was spent at the Baie Sainte-Marguerite, part of the Saguenay Fjord National Park. The fjord feeds into the St. Lawrence:
This bay is well known as a place where female beluga whales and their calves spend time.
Admiring the wildlife at the visitor's center (closed).
The trail from the visitor's center crossed a river feeding into the bay.
The route wandered gently down towards the Saguenay, past old structures and campgrounds. We arrived at a point looking across the bay, joining other onlookers. However, it was late in the season for belugas.
A research vessel passed by.
After our tromp back to the visitor's center, it was time to return to our lodgings at the Hotel Tadoussac. (This photo is from the next morning, when the light was better.)
Next, our final and best whale-watching day.
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| The view from the back. |
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