Seal Cruises
Shinnecock Bay and elsewhere
By: A. H. Kopelman, Ph.D.
CRESL Seal Cruises
CRESLI has new 2024/2025 cruises to view seals of Shinnecock Bay, NY, on the R/V PECONIC from Stony Brook University Marine Science Center in Southampton, NY.
Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2 hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You'll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You'll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the R/V Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area. Please do not be late
Stony Brook Marine Station, 8 Little Neck Road, Southampton, NY 11968. The cruise take about 2 hours, and will cost $40 per person. Spaces are limited and registration is required.
Registrations can be made by clicking on the date or dates below or using our calendar
CRESLI 2024-25 Shinnecock Bay Cruises | arrival time | depature | status |
Sunday, December 15, 2024 | 12:30 PM | 1:00PM | available |
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 9:30AM | 10:00AM | available |
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 9:30 AM | 10:00AM | available |
Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 1:30 PM | 2:00PM | available |
Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM | available |
Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 1:30 PM | 2:00PM | available |
Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 9:30 AM | 10:00AM | available |
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 1:30 PM | 2:00PM | available |
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 8:30 AM | 9:00AM | available |
Sunday, April 6, 2025 | 9:30 AM | 10:00AM | available |
PLEASE NOTE THAT AT PRESENT WE HAVE NO WAIT-LISTS SET UP FOR THESE SEAL CRUISES.
If you are interested in joining us, we can only accomdate you,if and when, someone drops out, and to date nobody has done so, Please send an email to Dr. Kopelman (president@cresli.org) with your name, contact information and the # spaces needed. You will be conmtacted should space become available prior to 8:00AM on the day of the trip.
Please be prepared for the COLD i.e., the vessel is essentially open to the weather on 3 sides and you will need to wear warm clothing in layers; wear long pants, hat, gloves, etc. Check the weather for Shinnecock Bay 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. We also suggest bringing water, binoculars, cameras. Hand warmers and toe warmers are also good to have.
Check the marine forecast for Shinnecock Bay
Cancellation Policy: If a cruise is cancelled, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel your reservation within 24 hrs of the scheduled cruise, you will receive a full refund.
Don't forget that CRESLI SEAL WALKS at CUPSOGUE BEACH began on Saturday, November 24, 2024
Seal cruises in the waters around Plum Island with CRESLI naturalists/scientists/educators can be arranged. Please contact Dr. Artie Kopelman
DATE | REPORT |
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Saturday, January 27, 2024 | Fantastic trip! We were lucky enough to be able to watch as seals arriving from the ocean swam north towards the haul-out site. While just a few seals were hauled out at first, they kept coming 34 seals, then 47 seals, the 72, then 79, then over 90. We were able to observe some classic loud and sometimes violent contests between seals for space of the sandbar. We also many seals with distinctive markings including 2 that we'd last seen in late October. An amazing experience for all of u. These photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been merged to form panoramic views to facilitate counting, and others were digitally cropped. All photos were taken without disturbing seals from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Captain Chris Winsor, and to his mate Matt for their help. We also thank Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. One final thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | Another amazing trip on Shinnecock Bay! CRESLI Senior scientist/naturalist, Dr. Artie Kopelman, with the help of his trained volunteers and the fantastic crew of the R/V Peconic, brought us to see 205 Atlantic harbor seals hauled-out on a sandbar in Shinnecock Bay. These photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been merged to form panoramic views to facilitate counting, and others were digitally cropped. All photos were taken without disturbing seals from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Captain Chris Winsor, and to Chris Paparo for their help. We also thank Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. One final thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Monday, February 19, 2024
| Dr. Kopelman's Stony Brook University, Spring 2024 MAR395-01 (Marine Mammal Research Techniques) class, once again traveled on the R/V Peconic, to view and count seals on the Shinnecock Bay haul-out area. We encountered 141 seals: 140 Atlantic harbor seals and 1 male Atlantic gray seal. Our thanks, again, to Captain Chris Winsor and Mate (and classmate) Matt Dean
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | Another fantastic trip on Shinnecock Bay aboard the R/V Peconic! CRESLI (Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island) Senior scientist/naturalist, Dr. Artie Kopelman, with the help of 3 trained volunteers and the fantastic crew of the R/V Peconic (Captain Chris Winsor and Mate Matt Dean), brought us to see 102 Atlantic harbor seals hauled-out on a sandbar in Shinnecock Bay with several swimming including an Atlantic gtray seal. Once again, these photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slight;ly, and others were digitally cropped. All photos were taken without disturbing seals from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. One final thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum. BTW, at Shinnecock Bay, we found a CRESLI cataloged harbor seal (named "top-hat-turkey-right") that was seen on 1/24/21 at Cupsogue Beach.
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Saturday, March 9, 2024 | A cloudy blustery, yet rewarding day on Shinnecock Bay aboard the R/V Peconic with CRESLI (Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island) Senior scientist/naturalist, Dr. Artie Kopelman, and with the help of 5 trained CRESLI volunteers and the fantastic crew of the R/V Peconic (Captain Scott Convery and Mate Matt Dean). On this trip, there were relatively few seals (15 in total with no more than 5 hauled-out), but loads of birds. Regarding the seals, we encountered 14 Atlantic harbor seals and 1 female Atlantic gray seal. Of the 14 harbor seal, 8 had markings unique enough to enter them into our new Shinnecock Bay Harbor Seal Catalogue. A large contingent of birders from the Eastern LI Audubon Society joined us on this trip. Eileen Schwinn and Thomas Moran provided lists on Ebird of 21 different bird species seen (254 individuals).
Once again, all CRESLI photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slightly, and most were digitally cropped. All photos were taken from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. One final thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum.
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | A sunny blustery and rewarding day on Shinnecock Bay aboard the R/V Peconic with CRESLI (Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island) Senior scientist/naturalist, Dr. Artie Kopelman, and with the help of 3 trained CRESLI volunteers and the fantastic crew of the R/V Peconic (Captain Chris Winsor and Chris Paparo helping out as mate). On this trip, we staring by watching the pair of osprey that returned again to the platform at the Martine Sciences Center. Chris Paparo also pointed out a pair of bald eagles on a sandbar as we travelled through the waters along the shore of the Shinnecock Nation. We spent the rest of our time observing, photographing, and counting the hauled-out and swimming seals. Photos are taken to help ground truth our on-site counts. CRESLI counts from the upper deck of the R/V Peconic were consistently between 110-120 harbor seals in total.
High resolution digital camera and software to assist in merging photos covering the entire haul-out, as well as software to help mark counted seals, allowed Dr. Kopelman to count the 159 seals we encountered on and near the sandbar. 158 were harbor seals (males and females) of all age classes from almost yearlings to adults. Careful review of several photos on the northern end of the haul-out showed an Atlantic gray seal pup, just a few months old.
Once again, all CRESLI photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slightly, and most were digitally cropped. All photos were taken from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. Thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum. One final thank you to the passengers, without whom we would not have done this.
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Saturday, April 6, 2024 (AM TRIP) | Shinnecock Bay Seal Cruise for Suffolk County Community College's Marine Biology Club. CRESLI Naturalist, Dr. Marianne McNamara, a Full Professor of Biology at Suffolk County Community College, and the head of their new Marine Biology Program, joined Dr. Artie Kopelman on a trip to see the seals in Shinnecock Bay. We arrive just as a few seals were beginning to haul-out. The sandbar was mostly still awash and about 15 harbor seals were in the area. Ultimately, within 40 minutes, the sandbar became more exposed and 24 harbor seals had hauled-ouT.
Once again, all CRESLI photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slightly, and most were digitally cropped. All photos were taken from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus.
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Saturday, April 6, 2024 (PM TRIP) | During the Shinnecock Bay Seal Cruise for Suffolk County Community College's Marine Biology Club, in the morning found 24 Atlantic harbor seals. On the afternoon trip, we encountered 48 harbor seals and one molting Atlantic gray seal pup (probably the same pup we'd seen here in prior weeks. This is the time of year when many seals have started swimming northward. Let's hope they stay around for a few more weeks. In the meantime we are beginning to prepare for our upcoming whale watch season
Once again, all CRESLI photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slightly, and most were digitally cropped. All photos were taken from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals. Our thanks to Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. Thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum. One final thank you to the passengers, without whom we would not have done this.
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
Sunday, April 21, 2024 | During our final Shinnecock Bay Seal Cruise for 2024, we ultimately found 4 different Atlantic harbor seals. On our fitst approach, we found 3, each of dramatically different sizes . Onw was very large, another ver small, and one intermediate between the others. A fishing vessel drove quickly between us and the seals, causing 2 of the 3 to leave. The one that remained is a seal we'd seen on April 6, 2024, with a healed injury on the right side of its thoracic area. The smaller seal returned quickly but the larger one did not. We traveled south away from the seals to allow the larger one to return. When we ultimately returned, and a different harbor seal became the 3rd one.
We expected relatively fewer seals due to the time of year and were glafd to have been successful. As always, it was an amazing experience for all of us.
Once again, these photos were taken using a Nikon Z 8 camera and a Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens. Some have been edited slight;ly, and others were digitally cropped. All photos were taken without disturbing seals from distances in full compliance with federal and NYS statues regarding marine mammals
Our thanks to Captain Chris Winsor. We also thank Stony Brook University, SoMAS and the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton Campus. One final thank you to our co-sponsors, the South Fork Natural History Center and Museum
Photos and videos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work)
Slideshow below |
DATE | REPORT |
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March 20, 2023 Suffolk Community College - Marine Bio Club trip . | Dr. Artie Kopelman, CRESLI's President, Senior Naturalist and Lecturer on Marine Mammals at Stony Brook University, led a trip organized by Dr. Marianne McNamara, Professor of Biology and CRESLI Naturalist, for the Marine Bio Club of SuffokCommunity College. We encountered 145 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and 1 Atlantic gray seal pup (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) in Shinnecock Bay, during a CRESLI cruise on Stony Brook University's R/V Peconic. We thank SBU SoMAS and Captain Brian Gagliardi
Photos can be viewed andf purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work) |
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 | A fantastic trip on the R/V Peconic, led by Dr. Artie Kopelman. We encountered 91 harbor seals comfortably hauled-out on the sandbar. Captain Brian Gagliardi, as always, did an incredibly fine job allowing us to see the seals without any disturbance to them. We were also joined by Chris Paparo, Manager of the Marine Sciences Center of Stony Brook University Southhampton Campus, who introduced passengers to the bird life on Shinnecock Bay.
Photos can be viewed and purchased here (funds go to help support CRESLI's work) |
Past seal cruises in the Plum Gut Area
2019 Seal Cruise Date | Status |
Saturday January 12, 2019 | ~100 gray seals and ~100 harbor seals |
Saturday January 26, 2019 | 50 gray seals on Great Gull Island and ~300 on Little Gull Island Photos |
Saturday May 11, 2019 | 15 harbor seals, including one bein g strangled by plastic Photos |
2018 Seal Cruise Date | Status |
Saturday, February 3, 2018 | ~200 Grey seals and ~10 harbor seals Photos |
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | ~375 Grey seals and ~60 harbor seals Photos |
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | ~60 Grey seals and ~100 harbor seals Photos |
Saturday, May 5, 2018 | ~300 Grey seals and ~~600 harbor seals Photos |
Saturday, May 12, 2018 | ~100 Grey seals and ~40 harbor seals Photos |