A patch of morning fog, some salt in the air, and the odd call of a black-legged kittiwake—sounds like a regular July on the shore, but for those watching the horizon in Petty Harbour, something magical happened in 2025. The bright glint of sea spray marked the arrival of a visitor: Ava, a graceful humpback whose journey along Newfoundland and Labrador waters would become a tale whispered across the coves.

On July 10th, curious eyes caught sight of Ava not once but twice beyond the familiar outlines of Petty Harbour. Her broad back rose above the chop, making waves that caught the morning sun, while old fishers grinned, knowing humpbacks never show up unannounced. Not one to linger too long, by the very next day, she was spotted just off Bay Bulls, sweeping along the gentle arc of the coastline with those telltale exhalations—a fountain high enough to rival the local whale boats.

A week or so later, word drifted in that Ava resurfaced in Bay Bulls itself on July 21st. Perhaps the capelin were plenty or the air simply sweeter that stretch of coast—whatever the reason, she seemed at ease, weaving through the mingling paddleboarders and terns. Yet, as quickly as she appeared, the trail went quiet after her July adventures.

By the following summer, Ava returned again, this time near Gull Island in Witless Bay, July 27th, 2026. There, amidst the raucous puffins and gulls, she cut a striking figure in the shadow of soaring cliffs—steady and majestic as always, a quiet sensation for those watchful and patient folks on deck.