CRESLI 2021-2022 Seal Walks and Research at Cupsogue Beach
Over 30,600 seal encounters at Cupsogue since 2006
By: A. H. Kopelman, PhD
CRESLI 2021/2022 Seal Walk Season is over!
- We will start again in late November 2022
30,651 seal encounters at Cupsogue since 2006 (502 trips)!
Join us next season to observe, photograph, and learn about Long Island's seals.
These 1.2 miles round trip walks are suitable for children and take about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Here is a slideshow of the 165 best photos and videos from the 2021-2022 seal season seal research and walks at Cupsogue Beach (2441 seal encounters in 38 trips).
Best photos and videos from the 2021-2022 seal season at Cupsogue
(use this link to see and/or buy any of the photos and videos in the slideshow above)
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DONATIONS while NOT REQUIRED, are RECOMMENDED because they help us fund our research and education programs. Remember these are simply suggested donations ($5.00 per adult; $3.00 under 18)
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if you wish to make a donation in advance, go to https://www.cresli.org/common/donations/donate.cfm?clientID=12000.Con
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If the donation page above isn’t working, please go to our PayPal donation page. You can make your donation via credit card (no PayPal account needed) at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5VYSF7M5XNKEN
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If you have a confirmed reservation, you will not be turned away. DONATIONS help us, but are not required. We are severely restricted in the number of participants this year. We hope that next year we will have put the Covid-19 Pandemic in out rear-view mirror.
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Please be prepared for the weather, i.e., wear warm clothing in layers. Hats, gloves, warm waterproof shoes are recommended, as are cameras and binoculars.
Check the weather for Westhampton Beach and assume that the winds will produce wind chill. It’s better to be a more-on, than a less-on, i.e., having more layers than you need is the right thing.
Please be advised that until as of 2/10/2022 facial coverings are optional
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Each walk will be capped at a maximum of 50 participants.
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All equipment will be sanitized before and after each walk.
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Telescopes will be replaced with high resolution digital cameras with viewing screen which the public will not be allowed to touch.
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Please DO NOT PARTICIPATE IF YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS. If you have recently been in contact with someone who is sick, Please Stay Home!
Here is a slideshow of the 165 best photos and videos from this season's seal research and walks at Cupsogue Beach (2441 seal encounters in 38 trips).
Best photos and videos from the 2021-2022 seal season at Cupsogue (use this link to see and/or buy any of the photos and videos in the slideshow above)
CRESLI 2021/2022 SEAL SIGHTINGS AT CUPSOGUE BEACH
| OBSERVATIONS |
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| Monday November 15, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
21 Harbor seals hauled-out
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| Saturday November 20, 2021
SEAL WALK
We saw just 1 harbor seal in Moriches Bay near the haulout site, but weren't able to get a photo. We later searched for and found 2 humpback whales seen about 400-800 meters from shore on the ocean side.
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| Sunday November 28, 2021
SEAL WALK
43 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and 2 Atlantic gray seals (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) on the new secondary haulout area of the sandbar, NNE of what was the main haulout site at Cupsogue Beach County Park. These seals were approximately 800 yards away, in an area used when disturbed and flushed from the primary eastern haulout site. We watched a the seals reacted en-masse to an unknown disturbance to their west (based upon the rapid head turns). Over the ensuing 30 minutes, we continued to remain low and quiet and watched as the seals swam past us, a few briefly looking our way.
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| Wednesday December 1, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
51 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and 2 Atlantic gray seals (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) on the new secondary haulout area of the sandbar, NNE of what was the main haulout site at Cupsogue Beach County Park.
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| Thursday December 2, 2021
SEAL WALK FOR OREGON MIDDLE SCHOOL
44 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and 2 Atlantic gray seals (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) on the new secondary haulout area of the sandbar NNE of what was the main haulout site at Cupsogue Beach County Park. These seals were approximately 650 yards away. I regret to note that we were TOO LOUD and the seals reacted by jumping into the water. We left the area to allow the seals to return, which they did in about 10 minutes.
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| Saturday December 4, 2021
SEAL WALK
25-30 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were hauled out very far away at the tertiary northeastern haulout area.
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| Sunday December 12, 2021
SEAL WALK
We encountered about 20 seals hauled out at the tertiary far northeastern haulout area, but they were flushed into the water. Here are several of those that remained
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| Monday December 13, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
Taken over 1.5 hrs, 25 (early)- 63 (later) seals (60 Atlantic harbor seals and 3 Atlantic gray seals), hauled out at the far NE haulout area at Cupsogue
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| Thursday December 16, 2021
SEAL WALK FOR SAXTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Once again the seals were far off on their haulout area to the NNE . Approximately 30-35 seals were observed and photographed
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| Sunday December 19, 2021
SEAL WALK
The winds were from the N gusting over 25 knots (31.25 mph), the water level was so high that the "new" haulout area was underwater.
No seals were hauled out and we were able to see 2 seals swimming.
No photos were taken. |
| Monday December 20, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
There was no wind and the water was like glass (Beaufort Scale 0). Approximately 35 seals were seen, including a few harbor seals that were photographed swimming near the "old" haulout area across from the old overlook above the rocks.
The majority of the seals were hauled out on a new spot, even further north, almost 3/4 of a mile away. They were so far away that it was impossible to get an accurate cont. The exact reasons for this change in haulout areas are unknown. We hope that the changes are temporary and that the seals will ultimately return to their normal haulout areas soon.
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| Monday December 27, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
65 harbor seals hauled out, then flushed from the "new" haulout area in Moriches Bay. Later a harbor seal and a humpback whale were seen on the ocean side as well
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| Tuesday December 28, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
75 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out, 66 hauled out in the "new" area NNE, 9 hauled out in the prior main haulout area. One seal we hadn't seen since March 2016, Lucky, was back.
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| Friday, December 31, 2021
SEAL WALK
Approximately 70 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out, in the "new" area NNE
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| Sunday, January 2, 2022
SEAL WALK
While monitoring the fog-bound haulout area prior to the seal walk we found about 30 seals hauled out in their "old place," namely the area they used from 2004-2006. 1.5 hours later, the seals were still fog bound, but at their "new" distant haulout to the NE. We waited paitiently and in a short while the fog cleared to show us ~90 seals hauled out in the "new" area.
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| Sunday, January 9, 2022
SEAL WALK
75 seals at sunrise! 29 at their main haulout area and 46 on the new area on the NE end of the sandbar.
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| Sunday, January 16, 2022
SEAL WALK
12 harbor seals observed swimming
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| Thursday, January 20, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
Up to ~41 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach
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| Saturday, January 22, 2022
SEAL WALK: Seatuck Environmental Association's Greentree Foundation Teachers’ Ecology Workshop
Again to ~41 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach. This time we were there for a beautiful sunset
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| Tuesday, January 25, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
113 Atlantic harbor seals (1 on rocks and 112 on the primary haulout area) in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach
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| Friday, January 28, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
146 Atlantic harbor seals on the primary haulout area in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach
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| Thursday, February 10, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
145 seals: 2 swimming Atlantic gray seals, 2 swimming Atlantic harbor seals, 137 Atlantic harbor seals on the tertiary haulout area on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach, and 4 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on rocks
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| Saturday, February 12, 2022
SEAL WALK
132 Atlantic harbor seals on the secondary haulout region of the sandbar at Cupsogue Beach. They remained from about 7:00 AM until around 10:30 AM when there were spooked from the sandbar by some unscupulous person flying a drone. PLEASE NEVER FLY A DRONE ANYHWHERE NEAR RESTING SEALS!
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| Sunday, February 13, 2022
SEAL WALK
5 Atlantic harbor seals swimming and cavorting on a snowy morning
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| Wednesday, February 16, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
128 Atlantic harbor seals on the tertiary haulout area on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach.
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| Monday, February 21, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
132 Atlantic harbor seals on the tertiary haulout area on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach.
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| Thursday, February 24, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
5 harbor seals swimming (including old-timers "Starburst" and "Horseshoe," as well as the new "Theta right.". All others were gone.
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| Saturday, February 26, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION followed by a SEAL WALK
No seals were hauled out on the sand bar prior to or during the seal walk. 8 seals were seen in total, 4 before the walk and another 4 during the walk, all were on and/or near the rocky haulout area.
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| Sunday, February 27, 2022
SEAL WALK
With howling NW winds, we were able to view ~42 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out in a tight group at the tertiary region of the sandbar.
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| Wednesday, March 2, 2022
SEAL WALK
We found 92-106 seals hauled out on the NE tertiary haulout region of sandbar and later found 1 seal hauled out on rocks
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| Thursday, March 10, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
101 Atlantic harbor seals on the tertiary haulout area on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach.
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| Sunday, March 13, 2022
SEAL WALK
Once again, with strong winds out of the NW, seals were swimming or hauled out on the rocks and stayed in the lee of the wind. The newly named "theta right" was seen swimming. Looking back over images, it was determined that "theta right" is the entangled seal we've seen now for 13 years. It is still being strangled by plastic
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| Saturday, March 26, 2022
SEAL WALK
168 seals were seen this day, including 1 Atlantic gray seal and 161 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the sandbar and 4 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the rocks seen during our seal walk. After the walk Dr. Kopelman was told by Cupsogue Beach Superintendant Ryan Sommerville, of a seal on the ocean side lying at the high tide wrack line. This was a yearling harp seal. The seal was reported to the NYS Stranding Hotline (631) 369-9829. All harp seal photos were taken at 200' with a 600mm telephoto lens.
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| Sunday, March 27, 2022
SEAL WALK
Interactions between ~50 Atlantic harbor seals and juvenile bald eagles on the secondary (closer) haulout area of the sandbar in Moriches Bay. Eventually all seals were flushed by the eagles. Later 1 young gray seal hauled out on the rocks
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| Wednesday, March 30, 2022
124 Atlantic harbor and 1 gray seal hauled out on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay
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| Thursday, April 07, 2022
1 Atlantic harbor seals swimming in Moriches Bay
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| Saturday, April 09, 2022
65 harbor seals today. 60 hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar, 3 on on the rocks, and 2 swimming in Moriches Bay
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| Sunday, April 10, 2022
On this seal walk we encountered 81 seals hauled out on the secondary (closer) haulout region of the sandbar in Moriches Bay.
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| Thursday, April 14, 2022
On this seal walk we encountered 30 seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar Moriches Bay.
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| Saturday, April 23, 2022
12 harbor seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar in Moriches Bay
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| Sunday, April 24, 2022
19 harbor seals were hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar Moriches Bay and photographed from 670 yards away prior to the seal walk. When we arrived over an hour later, the seals were gone from the NE region of the sandbar. We stayed and talked and eventually were able to watch a lone harbor repeatedly haul-out and return to the water.
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Seals are seen typically throughout the 7 months between November and May, however the average number of individuals per sighting varies per month. Take a look at the chart below.
| REMAINING SEAL WALKS |
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| Saturday, May 7, 2022 5:45 AM
Canceled due to weather |
| Sunday, May 8, 2022 6:45 AM
Canceled due to weather |
| Wednesday, May 11, 2022 9:15 AM
Scroll down to register |
Contact Dr. Artie Kopelman to arrange additional dates and times during the week for school groups, homeschoolers, and other groups
REGISTER FOR THE SEAL WALKS BELOW
2020-2021 CRESLI Seal walk schedule, monitoring sessions, & status reports (2844 seal encounters in 46 trips)
From our colleagues at NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic:
If you see seals on the beach, use the Rule of Thumb while watching seals to make sure you are giving them enough space.
1) Close one eye.
2) Make a thumbs up and hold your thumb so it's in line with your vision and the seal.
3) If you can see the seal from behind your thumb, you are too close so back up!
https://www.facebook.com/NOAAFisheriesNEMA/photos/a.1841106822794035/2588783844692992/
Don't forget to contact your local stranding network 631-369-9829, or our regional hotline 866-755-6622, if you think the seal needs help!
Information on past CRESLI seal walks (from 2002-2021)