Some summer mornings, the fog on Newfoundland and Labrador’s coast hangs so thick that even the gulls seem to wait for the curtain to lift. But for Ryan, a determined and spirited humpback, that’s just an invitation to explore another day.
Back in August 2018, Ryan was quite the traveller. She zigzagged between the chilly shallows off Horse Chops, Catalina, and the emerald inlets near Green Bay. Locals whispered of a big splash here, a gleaming back there, as she made her rounds, never in one spot too long. Then, as all good stories do, things took a twist—come springtime 2019, word was she’d been spotted swimming the cold, misty waters of Eyjafjörður, Iceland. Imagine that journey, crossing the wide Atlantic, just to see what was on the other side!
Ryan wasn’t one to linger. After her Icelandic adventure, she vanished from sight, leaving behind nothing but questions and hopes. Just when folks wondered if she’d found a new favourite bay, July 2022 brought news: Mobile Bay delivered the tiniest ripple that turned into a huge collective smile—Ryan was back!
In 2024, she was seen rolling through Witless Bay and Bay Bulls, her fluke a familiar sight for those lucky enough to be watching. July 2025 found her entering Lower Cove Head, still reminding everyone that some whales like to keep us guessing. Not long after, July 2026 saw her passing through Bay Bulls once more—perhaps chasing capelin or just enjoying the high summer sun.
Have you seen Ryan, the intrepid wanderer? If you’ve glimpsed her fluke or watched her breach, consider sharing your sighting. Every photo and tip adds another layer to her mysterious story, helping us learn about her journeys and the ever-shifting paths of these marvellous ocean travellers.
The waters around Newfoundland and Labrador are a buffet for humpbacks, rich with capelin, herring, and krill—making the long trek to our shores well worth it.
Off Horsechops, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August 9, 2018
Catalina, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August 14, 2018
In Green Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August 17, 2018
Off Horsechops, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August 21, 2018
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 Ryan, 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 Ryan'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.
