Story and photos by Nimhue Willow, Searsport
I could tell a hundred stories about my magical experiences at Wassumkik, but one stands above the rest as the most mystical and breathtaking moment of my life.
My partner and I live a short ten-minute walk from the island, and so we come almost daily. One afternoon in late summer, we came to cleanse ourselves in the salty air and seawater, to immerse ourselves in the birdsong, and be blanketed by the shadows of the tree canopies. This particular afternoon we walked the left side beach, kicking off our shoes and gazing out into the waters facing Cape Jellison. We like to go as far as we can before the tides creep in, though our soft pampered feet have to take their time traversing the barnacle-crusted rocks.
Sage and I ventured as far as the sea caves, reminiscing about the time we found a nest full of chicks tucked in the tree roots hanging over the caves. For a while we rooted around in the sand like wild boars, searching for bits of sea glass to add to our collection. After some time, the cloudy skies grew darker and a warm fog crept in. We decided to head back in case the tide turned and we couldn’t see our way.
Approaching the bend where the steps come into view, we slowed, knowing we were close enough not to get lost. We took in the beauty of the fog and the warm humid air. As we gazed out into the waters, which looked like a slate of stone reflecting the grey of the fog above, we noticed something. Having watched too many movies, our first instinct was to say, “Was that a shark?!” We watched, eyes squinted, locked in. Several minutes passed, and we didn’t see the figure again.
We continued moseying around, but my eyes kept darting back to the water. Sure enough, I saw it again! This time, the black silhouette of a finned creature did a classic “dolphin style” dive, right out in the middle of the bay! The water was tranquil and calm, except when one or more of the creatures broke the surface to come up for air. Most magnificently, listening carefully, we could hear a little exhale. What an amazing gift to hear the breath of a creature who lives its life in the sea!
We smiled and stayed for a long while after that, just watching, until we could barely see them anymore under the darkening sky. As soon as I climbed back into the passenger seat of my truck, I began researching. I can’t say for certain, but I believe what we saw was a trio of harbor porpoises! They’d come to feed on schooling fish such as the abundant mackerel found around the island.
Not only was this rare wildlife sighting special to us, but to see them in such a setting, their black-finned silhouettes against that foggy sky and glassy sea was breathtaking and mysterious. The photos can’t possibly do justice to what we saw.
I worry that if the wind port is built, these majestic creatures will no longer come to visit the island, as they are very sensitive to noise and water pollution. Are we the last people to see harbor porpoises at Wassumkik? I hope not.
A project of volunteers who care deeply about Sears Island