Past Seal walk Reports from Cupsogue 2010-2017

2010-2017 CRESLI Seal Sightings

at Cupsogue Beach

Best photos of the 2016-2017 seal season

Date Status Trip type
FRiday, November 21, 2016 2 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Sunday, November 27, 2016 Cancelled Seal walk
Friday, December 09, 2016 69 harbor seals

Photos
Video		 Research
Saturday, December 10, 2016 84 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal walk
Sunday, December 11, 2016 90 harbor seals and 1 grey seal during reseach walk prior to public walk

The seals were flushed from the haul-out by a boat before we were able to return.

30 harbor seals were hauled out for the seal walk

Photos
Video		 Research and
seal walk
Thursday, December 22, 2016 73 harbor seals

Photos
Video		 Research
Sunday, December 25, 2016 55 harbor seals during reseach session prior to public walk

90 harbor seals were hauled out for the public seal walk

Photos		 Research and
seal walk
Wednesday, December 28, 2016 108 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Saturday, January 07, 2017 43 harbor seals were seen (33 hauled out and 10 swimming)

Photos		 seal walk
Monday, January 09, 2017 52 harbor seals were seen

Photos

Video

 Seal Walk for Oregon Middle School
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 108 harbor seals were seen

Photos		 Seal Walk for East Quogue Elementary School
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 85 harbor seals were seen

Photos		 Seal Walk for Saxton and South Ocean Middle Schools
Sunday, January 15, 2017 73 harbor seals were seen

Photos		 Research
Saturday, January 21, 2017 114 harbor seals

Photos		 seal walk
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 63 harbor seals were seen

Photos		 Research
Saturday, January 28, 2017 21 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, January 29, 2017 70 harbor seals

Photos and Video		 Seal Walk
Sunday, February 5, 2017 54 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Saturday, February 11, 2017 107 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Saturday, February 18, 2017 131 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Sunday, February 19, 2017 152 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Saturday, February 25, 2017 32 harbor seals swimming after being repeatedly disturbed by vessels and people

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, February 26, 2017 83 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Saturday, March 11, 2017 35 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, March 12, 2017 131 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, MaRCH 26, 2017 32 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Friday, April 7, 2017 115 harbor seals

Photos		 Research
Saturday, April 08, 2017 131 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, April 09, 2017 93 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Saturday, April 22, 2017 5 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk
Sunday, April 23, 2017 10 harbor seals

Photos		 Seal Walk

 

2015-2016 CRESLI Seal Sightings

at Cupsogue Beach

Best photos of the 2015-2016 seal season

Date Status Trip type
Saturday, November 21, 2015 1 habor seal swimming Seal walk
Sunday, November 22, 2015 6 harbor seals hauled out

PHOTOS		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, December 06, 2015 70 harbor seals hauled out

PHOTOS		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Monday, December 07, 2015 71 harbor seals hauled out at 8:30 AM.

THE SEALS WERE OCCASIONALLY ON ALERT AFTER HEARING GUN SHOTS FROM DISTANT HUNTERS.  AFTER SHOTS CEASE, THE SEALS RELAX UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND OF SHOTS.

RETURNED AT 11:00 am WITH THE SCHOOL GROUP (OREGON MIDDLE SCHOOL) AND ONLY 6 WERE STILL THERE- THE MAJORITY HAD BEEN FLUSHED FROM THE SITE INADVERTENTLY BY A SHORE-BASED FISHER. THE 6 REMAINING INDIVIDUALS WERE FLUSHED BY THE PASSAGE OF A US COAST GUARD VESSEL AT HIGH SPEED


PHOTOS
VIDEO		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK for the Oregon Middle School
Sunday, December 12, 2015 2 harbor seals swimming instead of being hauled out

Too many boats and too many people on the shore near the haulout on a spring-like day in December and the seals had been obviously spooked off the haulout site. Let's hope that this isn't a regular occurrence this year. Looking forward to real winter-like weather soon.
PHOTOS		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
SAturday, December 19, 2015 61 harbor seals (59 hauled out and 2 in the water)

Photos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Sunday, December 20, 2015 15-20 harbor seals in the water feeding on bunker (Atlantic menhaden)

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 70 harbor seals.

The seals were originally split into two groups seperated by 240 yards, a large group of nearly 31 and a second group of 15.  The larger group continued to increase in number and within 30 minutes grew to 55, while the second group remained at 10.

Within 45 minutes of our arrival the seals from the secondary joined the others.

Photos
Video 1
Video 2 		 SEAL RESEARCH
SAturday, December 26, 2015 12 harbor seals (3 hauled out briefly early) then and all 12 in the water)

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK 
Monday, December 28, 2015 25 harbor seals (20 hauled out; 5 in the water)

Photos		 SEAL RESEARCH
sUnday, jANUArY 3, 2016 79 harbor seals hauled-out at Cupsogue just at sunrise. 1.5 hours later 84 were hauled out until they were scared off the sandbar by a vessel (NY 7372 JZ). The vessel passed slowly south of the sandbar and some of the seals were on alert, but most were unaffected and remained on the haul-out site. The vessel then stopped just east of the haulout and sat for a mnute out of gear, then revved its engine (still out of gear) and that caused the seals to flush from the haulout. Within 40 seconds, all 84 seals entered the water. The vessel then proceeded to follow the seals towards the inlet.

The incident will be reported to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Agents

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 92 harbor seal hauled out

Photos
Video		 SEAL RESEARCH
fRIday, January 8, 2016 65 harbor seals hauled-out

Photo and Video		 SEAL RESEARCH
Saturday, January 9, 2016 12 harbor seals SWIMMING (DISTURBED)

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 12 HARBOR SEALS SWIMMING (DISTURBED); 2 ATTEMPED TO HAUL-OUT

Photos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Sunday, January 17, 2016 106 HARBOR SEALS Hauled-out
Photos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 63 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos		 Seal Walk for East Quogue Elementary School
Friday, January 22, 2016 51 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Sunday, January 31, 2016 44 harbor seals hauled-out

The beautiful silence of the morning was pierced with frequent and disturbing sounds of shotgun fire. They sounded very close and were extremely loud. The seals reacted by changing to vigilant behavior and periodically bouncing in place while the guns blasted

Photos and Videos 		 SEAL RESEARCH
Monday, February 1, 2016 100 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos and Videos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Saturday, February 6, 2016 85 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Sunday, February 7, 2016 65 harbor seals seen around 9AM at Cupsogue on 2/7/2016. By 9:45 there would be about 90 seals, but half were scared off by vessels and people between 9:45 and 12:00 when we returned. 

Photos and Videos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Friday, February 19, 2016 92 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos and Videos		 SEAL RESEARCH
Saturday, February 20, 2016 98 harbor seals hauled-out.

Unfortunately, Many of the seals were ultimately chased from the haul-out by some jerks on a boat. The vessels actions were recorded and are being sent to federal agents

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Sunday, February 21, 2016 155 harbor seals hauled-out.

(2nd highest number in 11 years)

Photos		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Monday, February 22, 2016 140 harbor seals hauled-out.

Photos and Videos		 RESEARCH
Saturday, February 27, 2016 96 harbor seals hauled-out.

Photos		 RESEARCH
Saturday, March 05, 2016 94 harbor seals hauled-out.

We saw about 50 hauled-out as we walked down the road towards the viewing area. Once at the viewing area, as the CRESLI Crew walked to the snow fence to set up our equipment, while the rest of the people waited alohng the edge og the road, we saw that the seals had been flushed from the sand bar.

Everyone was asked to approach the snow fence in small groups and wait patiently.  Our patience was rewarded with a sight that very few people get to witness.  We were able to watch the haul-out process.  From no seals-hauled to to 94 seals hauled out over the course of 30 minutes!!

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Sunday, MArch 06, 2016 141 harbor seals hauled-out.

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Sunday, March 20, 2016 155 harbor seals  and 1 grey seal hauled-out.

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Saturday, March 26, 2016 96 harbor seals seen and photographed about at 11:25 AM.

Within 2 hours, unfortunately, the seals had been flushed from the sandbar and only 30 remained swimming in the area. eye-witnesses reported that many people were at the shore across from the haulout and half of the seals bolted. The other half were flushed by the close approach of a fast moving Suffols County Police vessel. Come on folks, let's give the seals a break.

don't go down to the water's edge. Stay behind the snow fencing.

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH and SEAL WALK
Friday, April 8, 2016 63 harbor seals.

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH
Sunday, April 10, 2016 About 30 harbor seals seen hauled out as we approached.

Unfortunately, a private helicopter flew over the hauled out seals as we were approaching and scattered them.  This helicopter has done so before, each time leaving just as we approached close enough to try and photograph or video the encounter.  Over the past years, helicopters and airplanes have repeatedly harassed the seals and have been reported to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Agents.  Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped.

If you are there and see anything like this occuring, try to video and/or photograph the encounter and get the aircraft's ID numbers and contact NYS DEC POLICE, OR NOAA FISHERIES , OR Dr. Kopelman (president@CRESLI.org) and he will give you the contact informatioN FOR REPORTING HARASSMENT.

Photos		 RESEARCH
Monday, April 11, 2016 84 harbor seals.

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH
Sunday, April 17, 2016 44 harbor seals hauled-out

Within a few minutes of arrival, we saw them chased off the sandbar by the close approach of a vesel. Over the next 45 minutes, vessels repeatedly cuased the seals to leave the sandbar.  Boaters, please leave the seals alone!

Photos and Video		 RESEARCH
Friday, April 29, 2016 3 harbor seals swimming

Photos		 RESEARCH
Saturday, April 30, 2016 12 harbor seals hauled-out

Photos		 RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK
Sunday, May 01, 2016 4 harbor seals swimming

Photos		 RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK
Saturday, May 07, 2016 9 harbor seals swimming

Photos		 RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK

 

2014-2015 CRESLI Seal Sightings  

at Cupsogue Beach

Best photos of the 2014-2015 seal season

Date Status Trip type
Saturday, November 15, 2014 1 habor seal swimming

Photos		 Research
Saturday, November 22, 2014 2 harbor seals swimming RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Sunday,
November 23, 2014		 2 harbor seals hauled out only to be chased off the sand bar by a vessel. The vessel's occupants beached the craft on the sand bar, anchored it and got out and began shooting a shotgun at clay targets. CRESLI personel notified Suffolk County, local, and NYSDEC Police. After the shooters eventually left, the seals returned to the sand bar. We at CRESLI hope that those folks get nailed for marine mammal harassment and anything else with which they can be charged.

Photos		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Sunday,
December 14, 2014		 68 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH 
Friday,
December 19, 2014		 78 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH
Saturday December 20, 2014  73 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Sunday December 21, 2014  81 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Saturday
December 27, 2014		  90 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH 
Monday
December 29, 2014		 85 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH 
Friday
January 02, 2015		 88 harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH 
Saturday
January 03, 2015		 14 harbor seals(swimming)

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Sunday
January 11, 2015		 14 harbor seals(swimming)

Photos		 RESEARCH
Wednesday
January 14, 2015		 14 harbor seals(swimming)

Photos		 RESEARCH
Thursday
January 15, 2015		 87 harbor seals

Photos
Videos		 RESEARCH
Saturday
January 17, 2015
18 harbor seals (7 hauled-out and 11 swimming).

The temperature at 8:00 AM was somewhere around 12 degrees Fahrenheit. It was cold, but our stalwart participants were ready for the cold. 

We were lucky enough to see the begining of a haul-out.  The young seals hauled out first (they are molting and truly need to be out of the water until their molts are finished). The early haul-out individiuals were typically hyper-vigilant  Early haul-outers often return to the water u til enough individuals haul-out to provide some "strength in numbers.

(a few hours later 40 were reported hauled-out)

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Sunday
January 18, 2015
At the Cupsogue Beach haulout site this morning at 8:10 (50 minutes prior to updates scheduled seal walk meeting time), there were ~90 harbor seals hauled out on the sand bar.

By 9:10, as we got to see the sand bar for the first time (we were still about 1/4 mile away from the viewing area) we first noticed that NONE were hauled out, As we got to the viewing area, we saw about 12 were in the water. Some swimming, others bottling, and still others canoodling in the between the near shore and the sand bar
 
Photos		  RESEARCH AND WALK
Tuesday
January 20, 2015		 68 harbor seals

Photos
Videos		 RESEARCH
Sunday
February 01, 2015		 28 Harbor seals

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Saturday
February 14, 2015		 51 Harbor seals

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Saturday
February 21, 2015		 13 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH
Sunday
March 01, 2015		 44 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Saturday
March 07, 2015		 65 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Sunday
March 15, 2015		 90 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Monday
March 16, 2015		 80 Harbor seals

Photos		 Walk for Island Trees HS
Sunday
March 15, 2015		 74 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Saturday
March 28, 2015		 30 Harbor seals

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Sunday
March 29, 2015		 30 Harbor seals

Photos		 SEAL WALK
Monday
March 30, 2015
4 Harbor seals hauled out on the rocks and later 10 Harbor seals in the water


Dr. Kopelman (CRESLI) led a trip at Cupsogue today for Ms. D'Ambrosia's marine science and research students from William Floyd High School.  about 2 hours before the students arrived he saw no seals hauled out on the usual sand bar, and much to his surprise, a group of juvenile harbor seals were hauled out on the rocks at the base of the haulout viewing area. In 10 years and over 230 observation periods, this had never been seen before . Needles to say, the seals never hauled out on the sandbar, left the rocks, but remained in the area when the class was there.

Photos
 SEAL WALK
Tuesday
March 31, 2015		 83 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH
Monday
April 06, 2015		 63 Harbor seals and 3 Grey seal pups

Photos		 SEAL WALK FOR HOME SCHOOL GROUP
Friday
April 17, 2015		 75 Harbor seals

Photos		 SEAL WALK FOR Pierson Middle High School
Saturday
April 18, 2015		 3 Harbor seals

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Sunday
April 19, 2015		 5 Harbor seals (swimming)

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Saturday
April 25, 2015		 134 Harbor seals and 1 grey seal

Photos		 RESEARCH AND WALK
Sunday
April 26, 2015		 117 Harbor seals and 3 grey seals
 
There were 117 harbor seals and 3 grey seals seen about 6:30 AM on Sunday April 26, 2015 at the Cupsogue Beach haulout site when Dr. Kopelman conducted his photo-identification research. When we returned with our seal walk group, 70 seals were hauled out until idiotic low-lifes in a vessel named Silver-Bullet, NY1429-KA, drove over to the haulout area and began fishing about 20 yards from the seals. This caused the seals to flush from the sandbar, much to the anger of those gathered to observe the seals from a distance. These low-life buffoons refused to back away from the seals, when asked to do so, and chuckled as they chased the seals away. They were warned that they would be photographed and that we would send the photos to federal authorities. The photos have been sent and we hope these miscreants get nailed by NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Agents for marine mammal harassment.


Photos and videos		 RESEARCH AND WALK

2013-2014 CRESLI Seal Sightings

 at Cupsogue Beach

2013-2014 CUPSOGUE SEAL SIGHTINGS
Date Status Trip Type
Monday, November 11, 2013

7 harbor seals
(hauled out)
 

photos

 Research
Friday, November 29, 2013

10 harbor seals
(hauled out)
 

photos

 Research
Saturday, November 30, 2013 3 harbor seals
(swimming)

photos not available		 Seal Walk
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2013

3 harbor seals
(swimming)
 

Photos

 SEAL WALK
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013

20 harbor seals
(swimming) and 50 Northen Gannets
 

Photos

 RESEARCH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013

55 harbor seals
(hauled-out)
 

Photos

 SEAL WALK
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

63 harbor seals were hauled out between 7:20 and 7:50 AM.

Acording to an eye-witness, the seals were purposely harassed by a vessel and were forced into the water around 8:45 AM.

At 9:45, CRESLI returned with a group of people for the seal walk, but only 20 seals remained.
 

Photos of both times

 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013

87-95 harbor seals hauled out at Cupsogue between 7:45 - 8:20 AM.

CRESLI volunteers in the area reported to us that a duck hunting group brought their vessel near the haul-out and flushed the seals.

Once again our seal walk participants were only able to see about 17 seals swimming in the area.

We at CRESLI would like to get the word out to boaters near Moriches Inlet to leave the resting seals alone
 

Photos of both times

 RESEARCH  and
SEAL WALK
Monday, December 30, 2013
69 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

photos

 RESEARCH
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014
60 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

photos

 Seal Walk
Friday, January 17, 2014
30 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

photos

 Research
Sunday, January 26, 2014
8 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

photos

 SEAL WALK
Monday, January 27, 2014
33 harbor seals
(hauled out)
 

 

photos
 SEAL WALK for USFWS group
Saturday, February 01, 2014
15-20 harbor seals
(Swimming)

Oil spill at Cupsogue Beach yesterday (1/31/14) near the seal haulout.
 

Yesterday a barge sank NE of the seal haulout area and release about 600 gallons of diesel fuel into the bay. A report from a CRESLI volunteer (Patty Alessi) notified the DEC yesterday. The seals were swimming in the oil.

Dr. Kopelman of CRESLI was there on 2/1/2014, as were the NYS DEC Police, Coast Guard and others.
The shore, marshes, rocks were oil coated. There were about 20 harbor seals swimming in the area (see photos) and none are hauled out. 

According to NYS DEC police, the USCG will be setting up booms to try and capture what they can. The seals photographed today are some of the core group utilizing this site got many years. Let's hope that the oil gets removed or dissipates soon and that the damage is limited and the seals aren't severely impacted

 

photos

 Research
SUnday, February 02, 2014
15-20 harbor seals
(Swimming)
 

Second day post oil-spill. About 20 seals again. Too many people around including workers cleaning up the spill. the seals were not hauling out becuase of all the activity near shore.

Ladies and gentlemen, please observe the seals from the bluff and don't head down to the shore. Let's give the seals a chance to rest on the sandbar undisturbed by people milling about the shoreline.

 

photos

 Research
Saturday, February 08, 2014
40 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos

 

Video

 SEAL WALK
Sunday, February 09, 2014
60 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos

 SEAL WALK
Monday, February 17, 2014
47 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos

 Research
Sunday, February 23, 2014
72 harbor seals

hauled out early, just after sunrise (7:00AM). they were flushed from the site by the activities & noise associated with the pipe removal and clearing of the dredging operations.

We returned after 9:00 am observed 15-20 harbor seals (12 hauled out and the others swimming)

 

 

Photos
 Research
Saturday, March 01, 2014
12 harbor seals

Swimming early (10:30AM) and just began to haul out in small numbers. colleagues who remained on site (Merry Camhi and Keith Ellenbogen) observed 10 haul out only to be harassed by an airplane circling above them repeatedly, and were finally flushed from the haul-out just before we arrived again. We have photographed the tail #'s on this aircraft and will be reporting it as well to NOAA Fisheries agents.

My guess us that it's the same pilot as he helicopter doing the same thing earlier.

We returned after 12:45 PM observed 10-12 harbor seals swimming

 

 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, March 02, 2014
61 harbor seals

hauled out early (11:00 AM). they were later flushed from the site by unknown activities .

returned after 1:00 Pm observed 12 harbor seals (3 hauled out and the others swimming)

 

 

Photos

 

 

 

Video
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, March 09, 2014
45 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos

 

 

 

Video
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Saturday, March 15, 2014
15-20 harbor seals
(swimming)

 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, March 16, 2014
47 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, March 23, 2014
85 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Friday, March 28, 2014
45 harbor seals

 

 

Photos

 

 

 

Video
 SEAL WALK for  Kasha Academy
Saturday, March 29, 2014
15 harbor seals

(SWIMMING)
 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, April 6, 2014
30 harbor seals
(hauled out)

 

Photos
 Research
Saturday, april 12, 2014
22 harbor seals

hauled out early (9:00 AM). they were later flushed from the site by vessels approaching too closely and aircraft flying directly overhead at low altitude.

returned after 11:30 Am observed 3 harbor seals swimming

 

 

Photos
 Research and
SEAL WALK
Sunday, April 13, 2014
4 harbor seals
(swimming)

 

Photos
 Research and
seal walk
Saturday, April 19, 2014
2 harbor seals
(swimming at 12:00 PM; only 1 was seen briefly during the walk at 3:00 PM)

 

Photos
 Research and
seal walk
     

2012-2013 CRESLI seal sightings

 Cupsogue Beach

Click on the sightings links for photographs

2012-13 CUPSOGUE SEAL SIGHTINGS
Date Status Trip Type
Wednesday, November 21, 2012

3 harbor seals (including one feeding on an octopus)

 

photos
 Research
Wednesday, December 12, 2012

65 harbor seals (hauled out)

 

photos
 Research
Sunday, 
December 23, 2012

12 harbor seals (swimming and feeding)

 

photos
 Seal walk
Friday, 
December 28, 2012

12 harbor seals (swimming)

 

photos
 Research
Tuesday, 
January 01, 2013

32 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

 

photos
 Research
sunday, 
January 06, 2013

46 harbor seals (hauled out)

 

photos
 seal walk
Tuesday, 
January 08, 2013

30 harbor seals (swimming and interacting with gulls)

 

photos
 Research
Friday,
January 11, 2013

8 harbor seals (swimming)

 

photos
 Seal walk for Oregon Middle School, Medford
Saturday,
January 12, 2013

6 harbor seals (swimming and hauled out; dense fog)

 

photos
 Seal walk
Sunday,
January 13, 2013

4 harbor seals (swimming and harassed by helicopter).

Helicopter was photographed and ID reported to the federal authorities.

 

photos
 Seal walk
Monday, 
January 21, 2013

39 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

 

photos
 Research
Saturday, 
January 26, 2013

58 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

 

photos
 seal walk
Sunday, 
January 27, 2013

85 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

 

photos
 seal walk
Sunday, 
February 24, 2013

51 harbor seals (hauled out)

 

photos

 

Video
 seal walk
Sunday, 
March 3, 2013

20 harbor seals (swimming)

 

photos
 Research
Saturday, 
March 9, 2013

25 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

About 12 harbor seals swimming near the haul-out site at Cupsogue around 9:00 AM, the water level was extremely high nearly 2 hours before dead low tide. At 11:00 AM about 20 seals were present, by 11:25 as we were leaving, 22 hauled out on the barely accessible sand bar and 3 were swimming.

 

photos
 Research and seal walk
Sunday, 
March 10, 2013

40 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)

during an early research trip, at 10:30 there were 12 harbor seals swimming and none hauled-out; at 11:04, 40 hauled out. Returned at 12:40 with the seal walk group, but none were hauled out; just about 18 swimming around.

 

photos
 Research and seal walk
Saturday, 
March 23, 2013

95 harbor seals (92 hauled out and 3 swimming)

during an early research trip, at 8:20 there were 60 harbor seals swimming and 10 hauled-out.

Returned at 10:30 with the seal walk group, 92 were hauled out; 3 were swimming around.

 

photos
 Research and seal walk
Sunday, 
March 24, 2013

41 harbor seals and 1 grey seal

during an early research trip, at 9:15 there were 41 harbor seals and 1 grey seal hauled-out.

Returned at 11:30 with the seal walk group, NONE were hauled out; ~20 were swimming around.
 

photos

 

Video

 Research and seal walk
Saturday, 
April 06, 2013

94 harbor seals and 1 grey seal

during an early research trip, at 7:30 there were 20 harbor seals swimming and 50 hauled-out.

Returned at 10:30 with the seal walk group, 95 seals were hauled out

 

photos
 Research and seal walk
Sunday, 
April 07, 2013

22 harbor seals

Today, a calmer and warmer day at Cupsogue Beach brought out lots of folks in addition to those with CRESLI to view the seals. Unfortunately, the other people had inadvertently disturbed the seals, as did aircraft. At 8:30, about 20 seals were swimming and none hauled-out.

At 11:30, once again about 20 were swimming. By 12:05 PM 11 had hauled-out and another 11 were in the water.

photos

 

Video

 Research and seal walk
Saturday, 
April 20, 2013

42 harbor seals

About 35 harbor seals at 7:50 AM (30 hauled-out; 5 in water) during research observation.

returned at 9:15 with the seal walk group, there were 42 harbor seals hauled out.
 

photos

 Research and seal walk
Sunday, 
April 21, 2013

45 harbor seals

At 7:49, there were 45 harbor seals hauled-out at Cupsogue during the early research trip. 10 minutes later, and all had been flushed from the sandbar.

At 9:40, the group of CRESLI seal walk participants caught a distant glimpse of 30 seals hauled-out, and we watched them all return to the water. Eventually, at the observation site, about 15 seals were observed hauling-out

photos

 Research and seal walk
Saturday, 
April 27, 2013

6 harbor seals and 80 grey seals

At the request of the wonderful people at the North Fork Audubon Society, CRESLI's president, Dr. Artie Kopelman, was the naturalist for a seal cruise from Greenport, NY on April 27, 2013, on the Peconic Star Express. We traveled in the area of Plum Gut, Great and Little Gull Islands, "The Ruins", and Gardiners Island before heading back. Overall we saw about 80 grey seals and 6 harbor seals. It was a spectacular trip.
 

MAP

 

PHOTOS

 seal cruise with North Fork Audubon SOciety


 

2011-2012 CRESLI seal sightings

 Cupsogue Beach

Click on the sightings links for photographs

Date Status Trip Type
December 10, 2011 No seals spotted Seal walk
December 18, 2011

28 harbor seals hauled out

photos

 Seal walk
December 22, 2011

5 harbor seals in water

photos

 Research
January 07, 2012

15 harbor seals hauled out and in waterr

photos

 Seal walk
January 09, 2012

8 harbor seals in water

Photos

 Research
January 19, 2012

15 harbor seals in water

photos

 Seal walk for the Oregon Middle School of Medford
January 22, 2012

8 harbor seals in water

Photos

 Seal walk
January 24, 2012

8 harbor seals in water

Photos

 Research
February 04, 2012

99 harbor seals and 1 grey seal hauled out

Photos

 Seal walk
February 17, 2012

92-95 harbor seals hauled out

Photos

 Research
February 199, 2012

35 harbor seals  (29 hauled out; 6 in water)

Photos

 Seal walk
February 24, 2012

4 harbor seals

Photos

 Research  prior to walk forrGirl  Scout Troop 251
February 26, 2012

8 harbor sealss

Photos

 Research and seal walk
March 2, 2012

114 harbor seals and 1 grey seal hauled out

Photos

 Research
March 4, 2012

133 harbor seals and 1 grey seal hauled out

Photos

 Seal walk
March 09, 2012

About 70 harbor seals were hauled out at Cupsogue this morning at 11:25, but high levels of aircraft activity, caused them to flush repeatedly. Eventually all left but the core group of 6 individuals.

Photos

 Seal walk for the Hampton Bays Middle School
March 10, 2012

35 harbor seals were hauled out at 11:50 AM.  They were disturbed and flushed from the site later; only 12 remained swimming in the area by the time we returned at 1:40

Photos

 Research and seal walk
March 17, 2012

105 seals hauled out between 7:30 and 7:50 AM.

120 harbor seals hauled out later (around 9:40) but were flushed from the site by aicarft noise, and repeatdly buzzed by a private helicopter

Photos

 Research and seal walk
March 18, 2012

122 seals hauled out between 8:30 and 8:35 AM.

136 harbor seals were seen hauled out later (around 10:40) and remained

Photos

 Research and seal walk
March 24, 2012

6 harbor seals swimming between 12:00 and 12:30 PM.

2 harbor seals were seen briefly later (around 2:20 PM)

Photos

 Research and seal walk
March 30, 2012

119 harbor seals hauled out before 7:00 AM
 

Photos

 Research trip
April 01, 2012

110 harbor seals and 1 juvenile grey seal at 7:35 AM.

We returned around 9:45; saw about 120 seals, but they were flushed before we could get an accurate count by a vessel (NY8077 UT). 

About 35 returned.

Photos

 Research and seal walk
April 04, 2012

115 seals hauled out for several hours.

Once again, the seals were harassed by a vessel and they left the sand bar. We were too far away to photograph the event or make out the boat's #.

Come on boaters out there, give the seals some space. Photograph them from a distance (I do it from 150 - 200 yards away) and if they begin to leave the haulout site, BACK OFF!

Photos

 Research trip
April 14, 2012

Research trip: 65 harbor and 2 juvenile grey seals just after day break.
 

Research photos


Seal walk: 58 harbor and 2 juvenile grey seals

Seal walk photos

 Research and seal walk
April 15, 2012

Seals were disturbed by fishing fishing vessels.  12 harbor seals were hauled out at 7:20 AM, but were repeatedly flushed from the sand bar.

At 9:30 only 6 seals remained swimming in the area
 

Photos

 Research and seal walk
April 21, 2012

2 harbor seals and 1 juvenile grey seal in the fog at Cupsogue before and during today's CRESLI seal walk.
 

Photos

 Research and seal walk
     

2010-2011 CRESLI seal sightings

 Cupsogue Beach

Click on the sightings links for photographs

DATE SIGHTINGS TYPE OF TRIP
12/05/2010 8 harbor seals Seal walk for Dr. Tanacredi's students, Dowling College
12/19/2010 42 harbor seals Seal walk
01/01/2011 96 harbor seals hauled out prior to seal walk Research trip - prior to walk
01/01/2011 20 harbor seals swimming during walk Seal walk
01/03/2011 18 harbor seals hauled out Research trip
01/16/2011 58 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
01/22/2011 78 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
01/30/2011 112 harbor seals  and 1 grey seal hauled out Seal walk
02/06/2011 20 harbor seals swimming

So many people came on their own, went right down to the shore.  The seals, which had been flushed from the sandbar earlier, were constantly too disturbed to haul-out. I wish that the public would give the seals the benefit of the doubt and stay up on the bluff, away from the beach, and keep a low profile when observing/photographing seals at Cupsogue. Excessive disturbance can lead to problems for the seals and potential abandonment of the site.		 research trip
02/13/2011 62 harbor seals  and 1 grey seal hauled out Seal walk
02/20/2011 28 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
02/26/2011 64 harbor seals  and 1 grey seal hauled out Seal walk
03/04/2011 108 harbor seals hauled out Research trip
03/13/2011 142 harbor seals  and 3 grey seals hauled out Seal walk
03/18/2011 108 harbor and 2 grey seals Seal walk for Robert Moses Middle School
03/19/2011 80  harbor seals (72 hauled out and 8 in the water) Seal walk
03/19/2011 80  harbor seals (50 hauled out and 30 in the water) Seal walk
03/27/2011 191 harbor and 2 grey seals Seal walk
04/02/2011 70 harbor seals hauled out research trip prior to Seal walk
04/02/2011 only 12 harbor seals in water after disturbance from vessels and people Seal walk
04/03/2011 90 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
04/15/2011 12 harbor seals swimming research trip and Seal walk for Hudson valley homeschooling group
04/16/2011 80 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
04/17/2011 60 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
04/30/2011 3 grey seals and 41 harbor seals hauled out Seal walk
05/01/2011 3 harbor seals swimming prior to seal walk.

None seen during scheduled walk		 Seal walk

 

2009-2010 CRESLI seal sightings

 Cupsogue Beach

Click on the sightings links for photographs

DATE SIGHTINGS TYPE OF TRIP
12/27/09 16 harbor seals
Seal walk
01/09/10 42 harbor seals
Seal walk
01/11/10 63 harbor seals prior to disturbance by kayaker
Research trip
01/13/10 65 harbor seals
Research trip
01/16/10 65 harbor seals prior to disturbance by vessels
Seal walk
01/24/10 5 harbor seals in the water after disturbance by gunfire
Seal walk
01/27/10 55 harbor seals prior to disturbance by gunfire
Research trip
01/28/10 57 harbor seals prior to disturbance by vessel
Research trip
01/30/10 5 harbor seals
Seal walk
02/07/10 13 harbor seals (10 on land and 3 in the water)
Seal walk
02/13/10 62 Harbor and 3 grey seals
Seal walk
02/14/10 62 Harbor and 3 grey seals
Seal walk
02/18/10 77 harbor and 3 grey seals
Research trip
02/22/10 94 harbor and 3 grey seals
Research trip
02/28/10 80 harbor seals
Research trip
03/02/10 102 harbor seals
Research trip
03/09/10 127 harbor seals
Research trip
03/11/10 115 harbor seals in two groups (85 and 30)
Hampton Bays Middle School - seal walk/research trip
03/16/10 14 harbor seals in two groups (5 in water and 9 on West Inlet Island)
Webelos of Scout Pack 161 -Shoreham; seal walk
03/17/10 13 harbor seals and 1 grey seal
The Sayville Project; seal walk
03/20/10
55 harbor seals
Seal walk
03/21/10
15 harbor seals
Seal walk
03/25/10 126 harbor  & 1 grey seals
Research trip
03/27/10a 101 harbor  & 1 grey seal
West Islip Cub Scout walk
03/27/10b 60 harbor  & 1 grey seal
Middle Island Cub Scout walk
03/28/10 89 Harbor and 1 grey seal

The 90 seals at 10:30 AM had been flushed from the haul out site and only 15 remained in the water when the seal walk occurred.
Research trip followed by a seal walk
04/01/10 106 harbor  seals
Av-Chai Foundation seal walk
04/07/10 102 harbor seals
Research trip
04/10/10
58 harbor and 2 Grey seals
Seal walk
04/11/10
55 harbor Seals hauled out prior to walk; 6 in water during walk
Research trip followed by seal walk
04/14/10 57 Harbor seals and 1 grey seal
Research trip
04/18/10
35 harbor seals
Seal walk
04/24/10
32 harbor Seals hauled out prior to walk; 6 in water during walk
Research trip followed by seal walk
04/30/10 4  Harbor seals
Research trip
05/05/10 4  Harbor seals
Research trip
     

 


 

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