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Whale Watching & Research in Trinity, Newfoundland | Sea of Whales Adventures with Shawna Prince

Host Michael Winsor and co-host Cory Babstock welcome Shawna Prince of Sea of Whales Adventures to discuss whale watching and marine research in Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador. Prince explains how Sea of Whales began in 2009 after she and Chris took over from a retiring operator, and describes their long-running photo-identification work and data sharing with groups like Allied Whale and Happywhale’s AI matching. She shares examples of unexpected humpback matches from the Azores to near Russia, outlines identification methods using fluke patterns and tail edges, and notes work with humpbacks, sperm whales, orcas, and a large fin whale dataset. The conversation covers sperm whale ecology and hydrophone use, rare blue whale sightings in September 2024, other local species, Caribbean breeding-ground collaboration in Turks and Caicos, and plans for the upcoming May 15–Oct 15 season, including sperm whale length measurements and iceberg conditions.

00:00 Welcome and Guests

00:39 Starting Sea of Whales

02:06 Whale Photo ID Research

03:39 Long Distance Whale Matches

04:40 How Photo ID Works

05:59 Species and Data Sharing

09:54 Happy Whale AI Explained

10:56 Sperm Whales in Newfoundland

13:45 Hydrophones and Deep Dives

17:15 Whale Encounters and Ethics

18:51 Surprise Sightings Blue Whales

21:47 Fin and Sei Whales Overview

25:02 Spotting Sperm Whales

25:27 Orca Catalog Connections

26:34 Do Orcas Visit More

27:22 Chasing Orca Patterns

28:40 Humpbacks in Turks

29:21 Calves Milk and Migration

31:28 Winter Whales and Oddballs

32:56 Why They Come North

33:49 Orca Scars and Safety

36:16 The Mystery of Breaching

37:47 Cameras and Rough Seas

39:45 Season Plans Icebergs

42:12 New Research and Dates

43:39 Where to Follow Sea

44:08 More Than Whales

45:22 Geology Tours and Wrap

46:37 Final Thanks and Signoff

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Let us know if you have any questions about Newfoundland and we may air it on next episode.

Weather, Fog & Golden Hour: Meteorologist Eddie Shear on Photographing Newfoundland & Labrador

Hosts Michael Winsor and Cory Babstock welcome Newfoundland and Labrador meteorologist Eddie Shear to discuss how weather affects photography, from storm tracking to finding ideal sunrise and sunset conditions. Shear describes the exceptionally snowy winter and late-season cold, explains why Newfoundland’s microclimates and terrain make forecasting difficult, and details how wind direction and the Gulf of St. Lawrence contribute to cloud, fog, and snow squalls, especially on the west coast. The conversation covers why fall often produces dramatic sunset colors, how skies can change rapidly, and how nearby areas like the Bonavista Peninsula can have drastically different conditions. They also discuss iceberg season, noting cold spring onshore winds help bring icebergs inshore, and the uncertainty for tour planning. Shear shares his photo-sharing approach and promotes Sheer Weather.

00:00 Meet Eddie Sheerr

01:12 Snowy Winter Catchup

03:22 West Coast Squalls Explained

05:37 Fall Light and Color

07:54 Sunset Surprise Moments

09:46 Chasing Clear Skies Nearby

12:42 Newfoundland Forecast Challenges

15:14 Storm Geek Energy

16:39 Summer Outlook and Heat

18:56 Tour Guest Expectations

19:08 Texas Heat Shock

20:12 Storm Skies Explained

22:01 Barometers and Sea Sense

23:32 Iceberg Season Outlook

26:54 Icebergs and Tourism Boom

29:07 Sharing Photos and Spots

33:06 Shear Weather Update

34:50 Final Sign Off

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Let us know if you have any questions about Newfoundland and we may air it on next episode.

Michael Winsor and co-host Corey discuss Newfoundland’s west coast after listener requests, sharing recent experiences with heavy snow, winter hikes, and photographing sunsets at Greenpoint Lighthouse. They highlight favorite west coast photography locations including Port au Choix and Port au Choix lighthouse, Bottle Cove for sunsets and orange dories, Cox’s Cove for fall reflections and bald eagles, and key Gros Morne National Park sites such as the Arches, the Tablelands, Trout River, Humber Valley, and Western Brook Pond (including winter snowmobile access and safety with guides). They talk about opportunities to photograph caribou, foxes, moose, and birds, plus the challenges of trip planning given distances. They briefly mention a fall photography tour, Corey’s organizing workflow, and Michael’s upcoming second photo book, and they postpone a deeper food discussion to a future episode, noting Trout River’s Seaside Restaurant buns and rolls.

00:00 Welcome to Newfoundland

00:41 Winter Updates and Hockey

02:08 Snowstorms and Snowshoeing

02:39 Green Point Lighthouse Photos

03:47 West Coast Lighthouse Spotlight

04:19 Caribou Encounters and Hotspots

08:16 Moose Photography Goals

09:17 West Coast Photo Tour Promo

10:26 Cox Cove Fall Colors

12:59 Bottle Cove Sunset Drive

14:54 Roadside Wildlife Surprises

18:22 The Arches and Wide Angle Tips

20:50 Why the West Coast Needs Time

22:10 Tablelands Geology and Views

24:06 Hiking the Tablelands Story

25:31 Trout River Night Skies

26:13 Seaside Rolls and Whale

27:47 Western Brook Winter Ride

29:28 Hiking and Tent Photos

30:27 Photo Workflow and Growth

32:12 West Coast Birds and Lighthouses

34:55 Remote South Coast Hops

37:33 Lost on Backroads

39:58 New Book Volume Two

42:28 Humber Valley Fall Colors

44:22 Savor the Moment

46:55 Where to Listen Next

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Welcome to the Rock!