On a fresh July morning, when the sea seemed to wear a sparkling shawl, Christine made her presence known just off Cape Spear. The wind teased at the whitecaps, and the ocean sang its old tune—yet Christine glided through with quiet resolve and a touch of mystery only the Atlantic can conjure.
Christine, a robust female, first delighted keen-eyed onlookers near Cape Spear in the summer of 2023. Not one for half-measures, she surfaced twice in a single day as if to say, 'Here I am, mark the spot!' By July of 2024, she was seen slipping elegantly between Great and Green Island—the kind of route favoured by those who know these waters well. Her return each summer suggested a soft spot for the welcoming embrace of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Come July 2025, Christine was sighted once more, this time closer to the familiar bustle of St. John’s. Maybe she fancied the view, or perhaps she was just avoiding the farther reaches on a blustery day. Yet, the biggest surprise was still ahead. In March of 2026, long after most folks hung up their oilskins for the season, Christine turned up far afield—cruising the warm turquoise waters off North Reef in Turks and Caicos. She wasn’t alone; observant eyes caught her swimming with a calf, confirming what the sea itself had hinted at: Christine’s journey was more than a solo adventure.
Have you seen Christine? If you catch a glimpse or snap a photo of her mighty tail, your sighting could help add to her incredible travelogue. Every submission shapes our understanding of Christina’s migration journeys and fills in the blanks of her remarkable story. Don’t keep your whale tales to yourself—share them and brighten up the map for all!
Did you know that humpback whales like Christine sometimes travel over 5,000 kilometres between summer feeding spots in Newfoundland and Labrador and winter calving grounds in the Caribbean? That’s a journey fit for an ocean giant!
Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 17, 2023
Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 17, 2023
Between Great and Green Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 15, 2024
St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 4, 2025
This is Happywhale's real data for this whale. The story above was generated based on these details, and a few creative assumptions.
Now that you've met Christine, introduce them to your friends! Share this page directly below or to post as a social media story. Use #HelloHumpbackNL in your post to stay connected to all the other whale stories from Newfoundland and Labrador's coasts.
Get a printable version of this story.
By submitting to Happywhale, your sighting can become part of Christine's data. Not only will it make their story richer for the next time they're spotted, but you'll become part of a global citizen science effort to better understand our oceans and the humpback whales that call them home.
