Whales spotted off NJ coast as great white shark returns (PHOTOS)

A whale was caught on video off the coast of Ocean City over the weekend as an old friend made a return visit to the Jersey Shore.

Daniel Maimone, whose photos were posted on OCNJDaily.com, told the news site two whales were feeding very close to the shore. He believes they are likely humpback whales, which are not strangers to New Jersey but don't usually come that close to the beach.

Three beluga whales made a visit to the Jersey Shore earlier this year in the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers in Monmouth County.

Another summertime visitor, Mary Lee the shark, has returned to coast with a ping off Long Beach Island in southern Ocean County on Monday morning.

OCEARCH, which tracks the great white and a number of other sharks with a tracker placed on their respective fins, has been spending the past few days off New Jersey's coastline, going as far north as the Atlantic Highlands areas before heading south again.

Jim Gelsleichter, a marine biologist from the University of North Florida and an OCEARCH collaborating scientist, told USA Today that the shark may have returned because of the solitary nature of the area, or she may be "pupping," or preparing to give birth.

Whale photos courtesy Daniel Maimone