Marine Mammals

We've  come to think of life as originating in the sea, with many branches becoming more complex and purposeful as they evolved 'upward' to terrestrial habitats. Recently, by which I mean over the course of tens of millions of years, some of those leg-bearing land-based creatures have re-committed to life in the water, to the point where we call them marine mammals, meaning that the oceans are their obligatory environment. The term does include polar bears, but mostly refers to animals that have developed profound adaptations allowing them to thrive primarily or entirely offshore. Looking into their special anatomy and abilities makes fascinating reading in online explorations. 

From Halibut Point the only sure observations of marine mammals are seals in winter, if you walk along the Atlantic Path until approaching Andrews Cove, where they can be seen at a distance 'bottling" with snouts protruding vertically above the surface while they think things over.

Harbor seal

Once in awhile seals come close to shore but are likely to submerge quickly into the depths where they are so well adapted to fishing , with large eyes, torpedo-shaped bodies, super-sensitive long whiskers that help navigate and follow prey, and a remarkable tolerance of long, deep dives.

They try to swallow what they catch immediately. If they have to bring it to the surface, gulls are waiting to harass them into releasing the prize by pecking their head and face. When gulls approach they duck back underwater.

Resting seals look both ridiculous and blissful outside the aqueous environment for which they are supremely designed.

Grey seal

Grey seals known a "horseheads" also frequent New England waters, though less commonly than harbor seals.

Minke Whale

Fairly far out in the Bay you might have a lucky moment spotting a whale going by, if you happen to be looking in just the right place. The few I've seen were traveling determinedly and covered perhaps half a mile between breaths, surfacing every 6-12 minutes.

Minkes at 30 or so feet are the smallest of the local baleen whales. Long, flat keratin plates hang from its mouth in place of teeth to enable it to filter crustaceans, plankton and small schooling fish from great gulps of seawater.

Humpback whale

Much less frequently the larger baleen whales come within sight of land in the Ipswich Bay, mostly during the warmer month when they build up fat stores for fall migration to southern calving and nursery grounds.

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

Fast-swimming Atlantic white-sided dolphins are usually found in social groups that can range from five to fifty. They often engage in acrobatic activity, breaching and jumping at the surface in pursuit of fish, or apparently for the pleasure of athletic play and entertainment in front of power boats.

Gannets and dolphins attacking a school of fish

This species is not considered migratory but has seasonal movements, moving closer inshore and north in the summers, and offshore and south in the winters.