There’s something about the early summer mornings north of Fox Island—chill fog mingling with sunlight, capelin shimmering just beneath the swells. It was on such a day that Sandy, a stately female humpback, swept in with effortless grace, flipping a glistening tail as if to announce, “I’ve arrived!”
Not one to linger in obscurity, Sandy made her way to Bay Bulls by the next tide, showing off her broad back and steady confidence. For days, she graced those waters—June 24th, 25th, and 26th—turning Bay Bulls into her own personal dining room, with the resounding blows and thunderous splashes echoing off the cliffs. The seagulls seemed mightily captivated by all the commotion—and who could blame them?
On June 28th, Sandy slipped along to Off Motion, her broad silhouette framed by the rolling coastal mist. But Bay Bulls clearly held a bit of her heart, as she returned again and again, from the end of June into July. Each visit was a treat for those onshore; her visits on July 4th, 5th, and 6th were matched only by her grand sweeps through Witless Bay and Mobile Bay, each location lending a different tease of her majestic form beneath the seawater’s restless silver.
Sandy’s summer rounds wouldn’t be complete without a final bow to Tors Cove, where she was last spotted on July 18th, before circling back to Witless Bay just two days later. For a few weeks, she seemed to be everywhere at once—a real treat for those lucky enough to catch her in their binoculars.
Have you seen Sandy? If you hap upon her during your wanderings along the Newfoundland and Labrador coast, snap a photo and let the world know! Your sightings help weave richer tales about these ocean wanderers and shed light on their incredible seaside journeys.
Humpback whales are known for their long journeys, sometimes travelling thousands of kilometres each year from feeding grounds in cold northern waters to warm southern seas to breed.
North of Fox Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
June 21, 2026
Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
June 23, 2026
Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
June 24, 2026
Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
June 25, 2026
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 Sandy, 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 Sandy'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.