The grey whale that thrilled Vancouverites on Wednesday made a surprise return to False Creek in the evening.

The whale originally meandered into the harbour at around noon before travelling east all the way to Science World, drawing the attention of cyclists and pedestrians amazed to see a massive ocean mammal so close to the city's downtown.

It made its way out of False Creek shortly before 3 p.m., but by 8 p.m. had returned to the city.

The whale was sighted in the evening near the southern seawall, east of the Granville Bridge.