On a crisp July morning, the fog over Mobile Bay hung like a curtain, just thin enough for silver sunlight to glimmer on waves. It was a perfect sort of day for a surprise, and that’s when Samantha made her entrance — as if the whole bay was simply waiting for her arrival.

Samantha, a female humpback of stately dignity, glided into view on July 12th, 2024. Her tail sent gentle ripples across Mobile Bay’s quiet surface, drawing admiring eyes from the shore. Folks whispered about the pleasure of seeing her that day, wondering where she’d come from and where she was heading next.

Fast forward almost two years: the morning air between Bay Bulls and Witless Bay was full of promise. On June 29th, 2026, Samantha reappeared, dancing through the currents and perhaps revelling in summer’s return to Newfoundland and Labrador. She didn’t linger alone—other whales were near, but Samantha’s trim flukes caught the sun just so, setting her apart.

A short hop down the coast, and Samantha was sighted again. Just eleven days later, on July 10th, 2026, she made a splash at Tors Cove. The cliffs echoed with seabirds, salt air, and the rhythmic drumbeat of giant flippers meeting the sea. Each sighting stitched another bright patch on the quilt of her known travels, revealing a fondness for these southwest waters.