Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781, Humpback Whale. Just north of the southeastern point of Shelter Island up Favorite Channel we spot our first whale of the day and my first of 2012. It is a single adult and I watch four large blows and one shallow arch and dorsal fin as it made a shallow dive.
Haematopus bachmani Audubon, 1838, Black Oystercatcher. Scouring the rocky low tide shoreline of Aaron Island yeilds little until the northernmost point where I find three birds, first of the year for me. When on the intertidal rocks among the rockweed and dark colorings, they are very hard to pull out. Linda Nicklin (naturalist for the trip) announces their presence and says to “look for a bill that looks like a carrot”. I need to remember that to use myself as it is an immediate image easily recognized by just about everyone.
Cepphus columba (Pallas, 1811), Pigeon Guillemot. A single bird, the first of the year and of many more today, flashes its white flying fast across the bow of the St. Nicholas.
Gavia immer (Brunnich, 1764), Common Loon. I spot a single bird sitting in the water in winter plumage just north of Bridget Cove, first 2012 Alaska sighting. A single humpback is heading north, very close to shore breathing twice, diving and motoring north. All black tail.
Phocoenoides dalli (True, 1885), Dall Porpoise. Just south of Point Bridget I spot five headed south in typical Dall fashion: active, jerky, exuberant, in-and-out of the water. I don’t see any white on the dorsal fins at all, but the lighting is very poor.
The bay and both headlands are named for George Vancouver’s mother, Bridget Berners. Her birthplace was Saint Mary Wiggenhall, England. His name for Point St. Mary was Point St. Makarius. I’ve not been able to find out when the change was made.