Quoddy Link Marine

08/07/2024

08/07/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Wednesday August 7, 2024
10am: This morning we got a message from our US colleagues from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic and Center for Coastal Studies who are in the area attempting to tag finback whales that they spotted 3 humpbacks offshore. We knew it was a long run but we headed out and we are happy we did! We found 2 humpbacks, one was a young whale (I have sent images to the humpback research team at Center for Coastal Studies who curates and maintains the Gulf of Maine humpback catalogue, THANK YOU to all of the hard work they do!) and the other was a very familiar face, CHEVRON! We got some wonderful looks at both humpbacks and it was time to start the run back to St. Andrews. On our way back we spotted another blow that turned out to be a large FINBACK! I immediately messaged the research team, we found the just what they were looking for! It was great to be able to put them on a fin whale after they put us on humpbacks, what a great and collaborative morning!!
1:30pm: This afternoon the wind picked up but we took a run first towards Blacks to see if we could find any whales along the shoreline. With no luck we headed into Head Harbour Passage where we found and got wonderful looks at a minke whale. We also saw seals and porpoise in the Passage before we headed back to St. Andrews.
5pm: This evening they spent time with 2 minkes, including Slice, who took them out of the calm waters of Head Harbour Passage into the rougher waters of the open Bay. They saw a large group of seabirds feeding on fish and lots of porpoise involved in the feeding frenzy! The stopped with grey seals at Black Rock and again with harbour and grey seals at Black Ledge. THANK YOU to Claire for keeping us all updated.
Thank You to everyone who joined us today!
Check back tomorrow for more updates,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/07/2024

Watching a humpback from the upper deck of the Quoddy Link
August 6/24
1:30pm

08/07/2024

Spending time in the Islands with a slow moving minke
August 6, 2024
5pm

08/07/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Tuesday August 6, 2024
10am: This morning we headed out, stopped with seals at Black Ledge and then I got a text from some colleagues. I am helping locate whales for a collaborative research project with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic and Center for Coastal Studies and this morning they texted us with a humpback sighting up the coast (THANK YOU). We headed up and it took a little searching because the humpback was INSIDE Beaver Harbour (right off the Eldridge cottage...IYKYK). We got some great looks at Hashtag before it was time to head home...AND we spotted a minke whale just outside of St. Andrews Harbour!
1:30pm: This afternoon we headed back out along the coast and spent more time with Hashtag, a young humpback. Then we headed to Head Harbour Passage where we found 2 minkes, lots of harbour porpoise and curious grey seals before headed back to St. Andrews.
5pm: This evening we again headed down the coast and spent time with Hashtag, a young humpback. We got some great looks then headed over to Head Harbour to warm up a little and to spend time with a minke, harbour and grey seals and harbour porpoise, a great way to end a great day.
Thank You to everyone who joined us today!
Cheers,
Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/05/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Monday August 5, 2024
10am: This morning, with calm seas and good visibility they took a big run offshore and around the Wolves in search of larger whales. We say it all the time, you never know what is out there unless you take the time to search. They were not able to locate any whales so they made their way into Head Harbour Passage where they spent time with minkes, porpoise and seals.
1:30pm: This afternoon they spent time with a minke whale close to East Quoddy Head Light, lots of harbour porpoise and they made the time to see some seals.
5pm: This evening they spent time with a minke close to Head Harbour Light and another minke amongst the Fundy Isles. Porpoise and seals as well, it was a great evening.
THANK YOU to Claire for keeping us all updated on our sightings,
Check back tomorrow for more sightings,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/05/2024

Claire and I pulled more than 400 feet of rope out of the Bay of Fundy today. It was snarled and wrapped with so much rockweed so we separated, cut and coiled it and placed it in the Debris Free Fundy rope bin from the Huntsman Marine Science Centre!
August 4/24

08/05/2024

Humpback in the rain
August 4, 2024
1:30pm departure

08/04/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Sunday August 4, 2024
10am: This morning they started with seals and minkes in the Islands but I got a message from a friendly local follower of our page, Tim L., and they let me know about a humpback sighting not far off...so I relayed the info to the boat and they headed out and picked up the humpback who turned out to be Hashtag! They got a few looks before it was time to head back to St. Andrews. THANK YOU TIM!!
1:30pm: The fog was still hanging on but there was some clearing along the coast so we stopped with seals then made our way towards Blacks Harbour, not far past I spotted a blow and we found a humpback, Hashtag again! We got some great looks and not even the rain dampened our spirits. We made our way over towards Head Harbour where we got some looks at porpoise and a minke before heading back to St. Andrews.
5pm: This evening the fog came back in so we headed into the Passage where we had some visibility and we knew a few other boats were watching a minke. We got some great looks as the whale traveled in a constant direction, which was unfortunately out into the fog but we did get some wonderful looks before that happened. We also saw seals, porpoise and a bald eagle and we made our way home through sunny and clear Western Passage.
Thank You to everyone who joined us today!
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/03/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Saturday August 3, 2024
10am: This morning, for the first part of the trip (after we stopped with seals) we had to rely on our senses other than vision to find whales in the fog, so we listened hard for the blow, or exhale, or whales we did locate a minke in Head Harbour Passage. As we travelled further up Head Harbour we found a large hole in the fog and watched 2 minkes in that area too as well as harbour porpoise. We took a run up to East Quoddy Head Light before making our way home to St. Andrews.
1:30pm: This afternoon the fog really tested us. We did a search down the Bliss shoreline (we did see a number of great shearwaters) and then made our way to Head Harbour Passage. We found ourselves in area where some fellow whale watching boats had spotted a minke, and we could hear the whale but never got eyes. We spotted some porpoise and seals and it was time to head back to St. Andrews when we picked up a minke in the fog and got some really good looks. We did have a longer trip, ensuring our passengers had some good sightings.
5:45pm: We did leave later due to the struggles in the fog in afternoon. Claire let me know they found a minke and got some great looks at seals and porpoise. Thank You Claire!!
Thank You to everyone who joined us today, thank you for your patience with the fog!
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/02/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Friday August 2, 2024
10am: This morning we had some fog to deal with and some patience was needed but the fog lifted in parts of Head Harbour Passage and we got some amazing looks at at least 4 minkes, lots of harbour porpoise, harbour and grey seals at Casco Bay and lots of feeding Bonaparte's gulls and terns. It was a wonderful morning.
1:30pm: This afternoon we headed out and with some improved visibility we took a run down the Bliss shoreline and then out towards the Wolves. On our way towards Head Harbour Passage Claire spotted a blow and we picked up a FINBACK whale! We got some great looks at the large whale who was diving for 7-8 minutes but not travelling too far between surfaces. We also saw a nice group of northern gannets and great shearwaters out in the same area. We stopped with harbour and grey seals on our way back to St. Andrews.
5pm: I got word from the boat they are watching the fin whale again!! Thank You Claire for keeping us all updated
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

08/02/2024

What a beautiful evening on the water with porpoise and minkes. Thank You to Claire for sharing the video
August 1/24

08/01/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
10am: This morning we spent time with a very cooperative minke in the fog in Head Harbour Passage getting some wonderful looks. We saw a small group of porpoise, bald eagles and seals at Black Ledge. It was a great morning.
1:30pm: This afternoon Claire picked up a minke in the Islands and we got some fantastic looks, and we saw three more minkes throughout the trip. We saw harbour and grey seals, harbour porpoise and watched a young bald eagle feast on a fish. The fog held on in some areas but we had decent visibility when we were watching the whales.
5pm: This evening they spent time with 2 minkes in Head Harbour Passage and 2 large groups of porpoise and lots of birds. They also had a look at Slice, a local favourite minke, in the fog on their way back into Passamaquoddy Bay. Thank You to Claire for the update!
Thank You to everyone who joined us today aboard the Quoddy Link. Check back in tomorrow for more sightings,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/31/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Wednesday July 31, 2024
10am: This morning we headed out in familiar weather....southerlies and fog. The fog was pushed back further offshore and the area of the Islands was mostly clear which was wonderful. We spent time with 3 minkes close to Casco Bay Island, and there were at least another 2 not far off. We saw harbour and grey seals on the ledges off Casco and harbour porpoise in the Passage. We also stopped with a bald eagle before making our way back to St. Andrews.
1:30pm: This afternoon we headed out, stopped with harbour and grey seals at Black Ledge and picked up a minke between White and Nubble. We got some great looks at the slow moving minke, one pass was right along our stern and starboard side, so close we could see the whole whale under the water. We also saw 2 other minkes, including Slice, but we didn't stay long in that area due to the boat traffic. We saw more seals on Black Rock and an adult bald eagles and stopped with lots of harbour porpoise in the Passage. It was a great afternoon on the water.
5pm: "This evening's trip started with a little bit of rain and we headed out into some wispy fog. The fog lifted as we stopped with harbour and grey seals and continued on in search of whales. We checked out a few places, finding harbour porpoise, guillemots, gulls, terns, and razor bills. We picked up a couple minke whales and got excellent looks before checking out Head Harbour lighthouse and several bald eagles. We started for home as the fog started rolling back in and completed our trip with a stop through the Old Sow whirlpool. Thank you for everyone who joined us tonight!" Thank You to Rika for the report!!
Thank You to everyone who joined us on the water today,
Check back in tomorrow for more updates,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/31/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Tuesday July 30, 2024
8:30am: This morning we had a chartered trip with a motor coach group. We started by taking the group to Campobello Island so they could tour the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. After we did a nature cruise stopping with FIVE minkes, harbour porpoise, seals and bald eagles. It was a wonderful morning with our tour group.
1:30pm: This afternoon we headed out, stopped with harbour and grey seals at Black Ledge then made a run out towards Blacks to see what we could find. On our run towards Head Harbour we saw the largest group of northern gannets, at least 12, that we have seen this season. We headed towards the Islands, picked up a minke between Spruce and White but only saw once. We watched another minke off Head Harbour Passage in the rough (and we saw a lone great shearwater) and another very slow moving minke off Popes. We made our way home through Western Passage.
5pm: This evening we made our down Western Passage. We saw porpoise and seals, picked up a minke in Head Harbour Passage, and saw so many birds this evening feeding on krill, 100s of Bonaparte's gulls and terns, it was beautiful to watch. Was a lovely evening on the water.
Thank You to everyone who joined us today aboard the catamaran,
Cheers,
Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/29/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Monday July 29, 2024
10am, 1:30pm & 5pm
Today the boat spent most of the time in the Islands with minke whales, it was much more clear, calmer and warmer in the protection of Campobello. The fog pushed back a little this afternoon and they did try and search a bit outside for larger whales but didn't have any luck. They saw seals and porpoise on all three trips as well.
Thank you to Claire for the updates and thank you to everyone who joined us aboard the catamaran.
Check back tomorrow for more updates,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/29/2024

From our friends at King Street Pizza, on the boat and want your pizza ready when you get back?? Give them a call at 506-814-4000!

Feel like a pizza after your trip? give us a call 5068144000 and we will have it ready for you when you get off the boat

07/29/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Sunday July 28, 2024
10am: This morning they spent time with TWO FINBACKS and a young minke
1:30pm: This afternoon we watched a minke whale in Head Harbour Passage as well a large humpback who was doing some long dives but we did get some good looks.
5pm: This evening we did check off Blacks but all was quiet over there so we went back to Head Harbour Passage and found a minke and spent time with the same long-diving humpback. The humpback is an individual known in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland but not in the Gulf of Maine. Thank You to the humpback research team at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA for maintaining and curating the GOM humpback whale catalogue.
We saw seals and lots of harbour porpoise on all three departures today.
Thank You to everyone who joined us today on the catamaran.
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/27/2024

Amazing basking shark sighting this morning, the shark remained at the surface allowing our passengers to get an incredible view of the second largest shark in the world.
Video by Rob from Kingston, ON
THANK YOU for sharing Rob!
July 27, 2024

07/27/2024

SIGHTINGS UPDATE
Saturday July 27, 2024
10am: This morning we headed out in flat calm conditions and good visibility. We stopped with seals and picked up a minke quickly but then continued on to see if we could find some larger whales. We did a BIG search, out to the Wolves Bank and behind the Wolves, we saw lots of porpoise but no whales....but with keen eyes we picked up a slow moving FINBACK, then a second finback! We got great looks at one of the whales before Captain Mat took us behind the Wolves again where we picked up a BASKING SHARK. It was quite possibly one of the best basking shark sightings we have ever had as the shark remained at the surface giving everyone incredible views (video will be posted). An amazing morning.
1:30pm: This afternoon we stopped with seals then made our way off towards Blacks where there were 2 HUMPBACKS and lots of boat traffic. We got some looks at a large humpback, the same one from yesterday but with the boat traffic we decided to leave and see if we could find the other whale reported in the area. It didn't take too long before we picked up the other humpback, who turned out to be Hashtag, and Hashtag was resting at the surface or quite possibly sleeping (whales have unihemispheric sleep, sleeping with half of their brain because breathing is a conscious behaviour for them). We kept our distance didn't stay too long with Hashtag who was still sleeping when we left. We stopped with the larger humpback again on our way back to St. Andrews.
5pm: This evening they spent time with the same large humpback as this afternoon and while they were there 2 fin whales came right on in! They made some time to stop with seals on the way home. Thank You to Claire for the update
Thanks to everyone who joined us today,
Cheers, Danielle

Send a message to learn more

07/27/2024

humpback
July 26/24
Image by CNeufeld