The sun was dancing on the swells when Bernice, one of the grand dames of Bay Bulls, made her presence known. There’s something about her arrival that gives the whole harbour a fresh spark—like finding a lucky stone right when you need it.

In early August of 2025, Bernice glided into Bay Bulls, riding a gentle breeze that lent a shimmer to her passage. Those in the know will tell you there’s more to a whale’s journey than simply moving from one patch of krill to another. When Bernice surfaced, she brought with her the lingering magic of the North Atlantic—ears popping as she sent up a misty salute, light catching the droplets just so.

Nearly a year later, in that same beloved bay at the edge of Newfoundland and Labrador, Bernice was spotted again in late July. Maybe she appreciates the calm that settles in before the true bustle of summer, or perhaps she’s fond of Bay Bulls’ wriggly capelin feasts and the steady company of puffins and gannets overhead. In either case, Bernice has made a habit out of turning a regular day at the shoreline into something worth waiting for.

Two summers, almost to the day, she returned to familiar currents and trusted feeding grounds—a sign of a thoughtful traveller with a fondness for old haunts.