On December 2, a small, curious humpback whale surfaced in Marion between Nye’s Wharf and Ram Island. Long-time residents of the town couldn’t remember a prior whale sighting. The animal looked to be about 20 feet long. Marion resident Michael Moore guessed from its size that the whale was young — and a sight that young humans would not want to miss. Just before dismissal, students at Sippican School heard the voice of Hannah Moore, their music direction, over the intercom. She announced the arrival of the exceedingly rare visitor. School immediately adjourned to Silvershell Beach. Students scanned the horizon from shore and, as if to oblige, the little humpback surfaced a few more times and swam in and out of the harbor again. Eventually the curious visitor swam back out to Buzzards Bay and eventually over to Padanaram. Caption and photographs by Barbara Ann Markel
