Kim Durham of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation says aerial photos from Atlantic Beach show the whale appears to be the same one that experts have been tracking since Sunday.
She says that whale was first seen near Long Branch, N.J., and experts had been watching for where it would surface. Atlantic Beach is on Long Island's south shore, about 30 miles from Manhattan.
The whale's gender is not yet known. Durham says a forensic examination of the whale will be conducted to determine a cause of death.
She said foundation officials will discuss the whale's disposal with officials from the town of Hempstead, which runs the beach.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-06-08-11 1020EDT
