Humpback whale spotted again in English Bay

A whale has once again been spotted in English Bay.

CBC News cameras caught the whale splashing around near a group of paddle boarders by Jericho Beach.

TessaDanelesko, a coordinator with theB.C.CetaceanSightings Network said the whale was a humpback,but she can't confirmif it's the same whale that's been seen around English Bay for the past several weeks.

"The reason we're not totally positive is that we haven't come across any images of the underside of the tail," Daneleskosaid. Thatpart of the whale's anatomy is similar to a human fingerprint, she said.

"Each individual humpback has a unique pattern there, so that's how we're able to identify individuals."

Residents and tourists have spotted ahumpbackwhalein English Bay sinceMarch, around Easter weekend,when itcame incredibly close to a group of boaters.

Daneleskosaideven though English Bay is busy with people and boats, it'sconsidered part of the "normal range" for humpbacks. Asmall number stay in the area year-round, she said. Therestare in the midst of travel.

"This time of year, as the weather starts to warm up, they'll be travelling from their winter destinationslike Hawaii, or down in tropical waters, so we will see humpbacks in B.C."

On April 3, another group saw a humpback around sunset in the waters near Kitsilano.