Humpback Whale

A humpback whale shows up in my notebook once or twice a season, always unplanned.

Wind direction matters for mammals in a way it mostly doesn’t for birds.

Taxonomy here follows a standard order-level frame (Artiodactyla / Balaenopteridae); common synonymies are noted when I’ve seen them used in the field.

One sighting that sticks: a single animal crossing an open flat with no cover, moving faster than I expected.

I’m learning to put the camera down earlier with mammals than I would with birds.