Canada Whale watching at St. Vincent's beach
On the beach at St. Vincent's, you may be lucky enough to see humpback whales hunting for food at close range. In the summer months, they follow the capelin there, which they eat en masse. The special feature of this beach is that it drops off very steeply after just a few meters. This provides enough space for the huge whales to hunt there. As you can see from my pictures, the time of day has no influence on the activity of the animals. The tides were also completely different during my recordings and I couldn't recognize any pattern.
If you spot the whales close to the shore, you don't have to follow them. They always swim past you parallel to the beach. Sometimes, however, their radius is concentrated on the eastern, central or western part of the beach. You should bear this in mind when choosing your parking space.
There is so much more to discover and it is not uncommon to spot seagulls, gannets, cormorants, seals and other animals close to the shore.
If you spot the whales close to the shore, you don't have to follow them. They always swim past you parallel to the beach. Sometimes, however, their radius is concentrated on the eastern, central or western part of the beach. You should bear this in mind when choosing your parking space.
There is so much more to discover and it is not uncommon to spot seagulls, gannets, cormorants, seals and other animals close to the shore.
Photography Tips
A good telephoto should be a matter of course here. My photos were all taken at around 500 mm on full format and I still had to crop. Exceptions to this are the photos that I was able to take directly in front of me on the beach. A focal length of 100-200 mm on full format is sufficient there. I also recommend a tripod, as it becomes difficult to hold the camera in position over time - even while waiting. You should think about sun protection, headgear and also rain protection. I always buy a cushion on site to have an alternative for a chair. I have spent many hours there over the years and have had no luck with the whales. There are no guarantees, but the experience is indescribable and unique.
Travel Information
There is plenty of space to park your rental car and you will also find a public toilet next to the "Holyrood Pond Interpretation Center" on the eastern part of the beach, near "The Gut".
Spot Type
Outdoor
Crowd Factor
A decent amount of people
Best Timing
Summer
Sunrise & Sunset
05:12 - 20:53
| current local time: 05:38
Photo Themes
Beach
humpback whales
Ocean
Water
Whale
Locations
Atlantic Ocean
Saint Vincent's
Newfoundland
canada.
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