CRESLI's
previous offshore pelagic bird and whale watch trips to the Great
South Channel have been amazing successes (100% sighting rate).
We have encountered over 400 humpbacks (nearly 50%
of the Gulf of Maine stock) in our 7 trips to the Great South
Channel. With the assistance of the Whale Center of New
England, we have photo-identified 148 different whales during these
trips.
Click here
for a detailed list of Total CRESLI humpback sightings 2002-2007..
2008
Great South Channel
From Montauk to the Great South Channel
in search of Humpback, Fin, Minke Whales, Right, Sei and pilot
whales, various other dolphin species and pelagic
birds
July 20 -22
(34 hours)
Leave Montauk at 8:00 PM on July
20, 2008, and head to the Great South Channel (GSC).
We should reach the whale grounds
around day break, spend the next 15 hours amongst the whales and
birds of the GSC.
After sunset, we’ll head back to
Montauk and should return by 6:00 AM on July 22, 2008.
July 20 -22
Adult (13 and older)
Child (7-12)
Child (under 6)
CRESLI MEMBER
$300
$150.00
NO CHARGE
NON-MEMBER
$325
$162.50
August 10-12
(51 hours)
Leave Montauk at 7:00 PM on
August 10, 2008 and head to Martha’s Vineyard (MV) to pick up
(and drop off) passengers. We expect to arrive at Oak
Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard at around 12:30 AM on 8/11; we leave
MV at 1:00 AM and proceed to the GSC.
We should reach the whale grounds
around day break, spend the next 24 hours amongst the whales and
birds of the GSC.
The following morning, we will
have the option of either remaining on the whale grounds, or
returning early to Martha’s Vineyard for land-based birding,
hiking, or other activities. The vessel will ultimately
depart Martha’s Vineyard at 4:30 PM on 8/12 and return to
Montauk at 10:30 PM on 8/12/08.
CRESLI biologists will be joined by biologists from the
Whale Center of New Englandand other organizations,
to provide expertise regarding identification of
individual humpbacks of the Gulf of Maine stock.
Departure point: The
Viking Dock at Montauk Harbor, Montauk, NY
Destination: Offshore pelagic birds and whale watch trips to the
Great South Channel.
Cetaceans: Humpback, Fin, Minke, Right; Sei, Sperm and
Pilot whales; Common, Bottlenose, Atlantic White Sided and Risso’s Dolphins;
Leatherback, Green and Loggerhead Turtles; Basking, Great White, Hammerhead,
and Blue Sharks; Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna; White Marlin; Ocean
Sunfish; Portuguese Man-of-War; and other marine life.
Birds: Cory’s, Greater, Sooty, Manx, and Audubon’s
Shearwaters; Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels; Northern Fulmar; Northern
Gannet; Red-necked and Red Phalaropes; Pomarine, and Parasitic Jaegers;
South Polar Skua; Greater Black-backed, Herring, Bonaparte’s Gulls.
Comments: The vessel is the 140’ Viking Starship that can sleep up to
65 passengers in navy style bunks. Excellent food will be available at
reasonable prices. Passengers may bring their own food as well. The trips will
be led by a seasoned marine mammal biologist and professor. Volunteers from
CRESLI will assist in photo-identification spotting and data collection.
