Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

Past Seal Walk Reports

Field Guide to Marine Mammals of NY

Here's a pdf copy of our tri-fold "Field Guide to Marine Mammals of NY"

Related Document: CRESLI_trifold_hyperlink_forwebsite.pdf


Past CRESLI Seal Walk Sightings

PAST CRESLI SEAL WALKS and CRUISES


CRESLI 2022- 2023 SEAL SIGHTINGS AT CUPSOGUE BEACH

OBSERVATIONS

Saturday, November 26, 2022

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

3 Harbor seals swimming

Thursday, December 1, 2022

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

1 Atlantic harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) swimming while the dredging pipes were being removed

Photos available to view and purchase 

Sunday, December 4, 2022  Seal walk

2 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed swimming during our December 4, 2022 seal walk. One seal was "Right-Cheek-Dancers," a seal we've now seen on 5 occassions of the past 10 years. Dredging equipment was being removed, hence the disrtubance level was extremely high and no seals were hauled out.

Photos available to view and purchase 

Thursday, December 15, 2022

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

21 Atlantic harbor seals(Phoca vitulina vitulina. 5 were hauled out on rocks, the rest were hauled out about 1100 yards away.

Photos available to view and purchase 

Saturday, December 17, 2022 Seal walk

108 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 17, 2022 seal walk

Photos available to view and purchase

Sunday, December 18, 2022 Seal walk

108 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 18, 2022 seal walk

Photos available to view and purchase

Monday, December 19, 2022 Seal walk for the South Ocean Middle School

132 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 19, 2022 seal walk for the South Ocean Middle School. Just after the students left, the seals were flushed from the sandbar in response to the sounds of a distant approaching vessel that they recognized 

Photos available to view and purchase

Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Seal walk for Eastern Suffolk BOCES Islip Academic Center

2 harbor seals seen swimming

Photo available to view and purchase

Friday, December 30, 2022

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

74 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 30, 2022 seal moniitoring session, on the far NE section of the sand bar, 480 yards away. This group included "Triangle" back for his 15th season over 17 years

Photo available to view and purchase

Saturday, December 31, 2022

SEAL WALK

On a foggy, rainy morning, about 30 seals were hauled out on the far NE area of the sandbar about 600 yards from us. Before we could get ready, the seals flushed from the sandbar. We waited and watched as several floated past us, including 3 gray sealls. The conditions were difficult for photographing and just a few Atlantic harbor seals were photographed. We are looking forward to tomorrow's trip.

Photo available to view and purchase

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

On this lightly foggy morning, about 1 Atlantic gray seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) and 56 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were hauled out on the far NE area of the sandbar. Conditions were difficult for photographing or ID'ing the seals, although "hammer-head-right," a female we've seen since 2006, was heard (even 600 yds away), and ID'd in one of the photographs. All photos were sharpened using available AI software

Photo available to view and purchase

Saturday, January 7, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION followed by a SEAL WALK

~52 Harbor seals and 1 gray seal hauled out at the far NE area of the sandbar (~800 yards away) were photographed and videoed 1.5 hours prior to our scheduled seal walk. When we returned, the seals were gone except for a few swimmers. It's sad and unfortunate that the seals get flushed from their haulout. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that seals be given at least 150 feet of protection. We know that seals learn and respond adversely to the sounds of vessels (and aircraft) that have disturbed them in the past.  PLEASE GIVE SEALS THEIR SPACE

Photo available to view and purchase

Wednesday, January 17, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

137 harbor seals hauled (130 on the primary haulout area , with 7 on the secondary area)

Photos available to view and purchase

Thursday, January 18, 2023

SEAL WALK for the SAXTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

142 harbor seals hauled on the secondary area.

Photos available to view and purchase

Saturday, January 21, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION followed by a SEAL WALK

~40 harbor seals and photographed were seen 1.5 hours prior to our walk. About 20 were hauled out on the mostly inundated sandbar and 20 more were in the water. As our monitoring team was leaving, an airplane flew at low altitude directly over the seals and flushed them from the haul out area. That action is in violation of NYS and Federal law.  The plane's ID number was captured and will be sent to the appropriate authorities. It is so wrong to have someone deliberately fly low over the seals.  We returned to the site with our seal walk participants, many of the from the Sayville Middle School Explorers Club, to ultimately find 5 harbors seals swimming.

Photos available to view and purchase

Saturday, January 28, 2023

SEAL WALK for the Seatuck Environmental Association Greentree Teachers’ Ecology Workshop

As many as 57 seals sighted during a seal walk for Seatuck Environmental Association Greentree Teachers’ Ecology Workshop

Photos available to view and purchase

Sunday, January 29, 2023

SEAL WALK

CRESLI seal walk around sun rise. As many as 47 seals were hauled on on the far NW end of the sandbar.  Unfortunately kayakers and a motor vessel eventually flushed the seals and they headed to a more distant part of the sandbar

Photos available to view and purchase

Thursday, February 2, 2023

SEAL WALK for the Oregon Middle School

58 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) seen. 57 hauled on on the far NE end of the sandbar and 1 was hauled out on the rocks.

Photos available to view and purchase

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

6 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were seen, 3 were hauled out on the rocks and 3 were swimming 

Photos available to view and purchase

Thursday, February 16, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

~89 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were seen during this session. At first 80 were seen and counted including 4 on the rocks, 4 swimming and 72 on the far NE end of the sandbar (the teriary haulout site, which is now more often used). Later viewong the sandbar from a different angle, we were able to count 82 hauled out there, with 2 swimming and 4 still on the rocks

Photos available to view and purchase

Saturday, February 18, 2023

SEAL WALK 

4 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) on the rocks at Cupsogue Beach

Photos available to view and purchase

Sunday, February 19, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK

CRESLI seal monitoring session with 55 harbor seals hauled out (330 yds. away) at the NE (tertiary) haulout site and 1 swimming. Later during the seal walk, we viewed the haulout from 500 yds. away (at the camping area) and once again counted 55 harbor seals. Counts were conducted in the field using a Nikon EDG Fieldscope 65mm Straight Body, and from photographs using ImageJ 

Photos available to view and purchase

Sunday, March 5, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK

CRESLI Senior Scientist/Naturalist, Dr. Artie Kopelman, arrive at the site 2 hours before low tide. The far NE end of the sandbar (the tertiary haulout area) was awash, and the rocks were awash. He observed and documented nearly 70 Atlantic harbor seals haulout onto the main haulout area over a 10 minute interval. The seals remained undisturbed.  When we arrived later with our seal walk group and observed from the ridge at the camping area, there were 164 harbor seals, including our old friends "Horseshoe," "Paw-print," and "Hammer-head-right."

Photos available to view and purchase

Friday, March 17, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

153 harbor seals, 148 on the sandbar and 5 swimming

Photos available to view and purchase

Saturday, March 18, 2023

SEAL MONITORING and SEAL WALK

Prior to the seal walk, a monitoring session showed 101 and then 106  harbor seals hauled out on the primary haulout area of the sandbar. Returning with the folks on our walk 1.5 hrs later, we encountered 167 seals on the sandbar, our highest total for the 2023 season thus far.

Photos available to view and purchase

Sunday, March 19, 2023

SEAL MONITORING and SEAL WALK

The wind conditions were extreme, with N winds at 15 mph gusting to 25 mph. A monitoring session prior to the seal walk allowed Dr. Kopelman to watch 30-50 harbor seals hauled out on the primary haulout area of the sandbar, with several youger seals porpoising and chasing each other. Returning with the folks on our walk 1.5 hrs later, once again we encountered 167 seals on the sandbar and 3 on the rocks. While conditions were not great for photography, and while most folks who signed up never showed, the 20 people who joined us had an amazing experience.

Photos available to view and purchase

Friday, March 24, 2023

SEAL MONITORING 

Perfect conditions to view and photograph 150 harbor seals on the primary haulout region of the sand bar at Cupsogue Beach Park!

Photos available to view and purchase

Tuesday March 28, 2023

SEAL MONITORING

180 seals were hauled out in 2 clusters of 105 and 75 seals respectively. These included 1 juvenile Atlatic gray seal and 179 Atlantic harbor seals

Photos available to view and purchase.

Sunday, April 1, 2023

SEAL MONITORING followed by SEAL WALK

102 seals (101 Atlantic harbor seals and 1 juvenile Atlantic gray seal) were seen during the seal walk (89 seen 1.5 hours prior during our monitoring session)

Photos available to view and purchase.

Thursday April 13, 2023

SEAL MONITORING

During this monitoring session, the haulout was split up dramatically. One group of 11 seals (10 hauled-out and 1 swimming) were at the primary haulout area on the western end of the sandbar.  All the way to the NE end of the sandbar, easily 800m away was a group of aprroximately 21 seals. Eventually, after the dredging vessel that was moored on shore near the secondary haul-out area got underway, all seals moved to an area even furthe away where both groups found a resting place farther from the shore (the quarternary haulout area).

Photos available to view and purchase.

Saturday April 15, 2023 and Sunday April 16, 2023: Seals in the fog

The patchy fog on 4/15/23 and 4/16/23 required patience to see the seals (~20 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday), and even more patience to photograph them. Some of these images are exactly what we saw, others have been dehazed and sharpened, or dehazed and noise removed. Wildlife observation and photography can be tricky, yet still rewarding

Photos available to view and purchase.

Tuesday April 18, 2023

SEAL MONITORING SESSION 

During this monitoring session, as in the past few trips, the activity of moored  dredging support vessels caused the seals to leave their main haulour area and retreat to a distant area hundreds of yards to the NNE, where 15 seals were seen

Photos available to view and purchase.


CRESLI 2021/2022 SEAL SIGHTINGS AT CUPSOGUE BEACH

OBSERVATIONS

Monday November 15, 2021

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

21 Harbor seals hauled-out 

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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. 

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Friday, December 31, 2021

SEAL WALK

Approximately 70 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out,  in the "new" area NNE

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Sunday, January 16, 2022

SEAL WALK

12 harbor seals observed swimming

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Friday, January 28, 2022

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

146 Atlantic harbor seals on the primary haulout area in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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!

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Sunday, February 13, 2022

SEAL WALK 

5 Atlantic harbor seals swimming and cavorting on a snowy morning

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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 

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

124 Atlantic harbor and 1 gray seal hauled out on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Thursday, April 07, 2022

1 Atlantic harbor seals swimming in Moriches Bay

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

 

Thursday, April 14, 2022

On this seal walk we encountered 30 seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar Moriches Bay.

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

Saturday, April 23, 2022

12 harbor seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar in Moriches Bay

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

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. 

PHOTOS available to view (and/or purchase) via this link

 

2020-2021 Seal Sightings at Cupsogue

Date Type of trip STATUS
Sunday November 08, 2020 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

8 Harbor seals hauled-out and 2 swimming

PHOTOS

Monday November 09, 2020 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

2 harbor seals swimming

PHOTOS

Sunday November 15, 2020 SEAL WALK

3 Atlantic harbor seals on the far northeast end of the seal haulout sandbar in Moriches Bay (secondary haul-out site) and a lob-tailing humpback approximately 500 yards from shore on the ocean side at Cupsogue Beach during the

 

PHOTOS of seals and humpback

Sunday November 22, 2020 SEAL WALK 

Quick view of a large diving seal.  Could not ascertain species.

No photos

Friday November 27, 2020 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

36 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area, flushed into the water for unknown reason, the swam to secondary haul-out area far to the northeast

PHOTOS AND VIDEO 

Saturday November 28, 2020 SEAL WALK

Several harbor seals seen during an early monitoring session. ~20 harbor seals hauled-out on secondary haul-out area far to the northeast.

PHOTOS and VIDEO

Sunday, November 29, 2020 SEAL WALK

35 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area

PHOTOS and VIDEO

Thursday December 10, 2020 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

83 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area

PHOTOS and VIDEO

Sunday December 13, 2020 SEAL WALK

Several swimming harbor seals seen during an early monitoring session. ~30 harbor seals hauled-out on secondary haul-out area far to the northeast.

PHOTOS

Wednesday December 23, 2020 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

83 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area

VIDEO

PHOTOS

Saturday December 26, 2020 SEAL WALK

Several swimming harbor seals seen during an early monitoring session and during the seal walk

PHOTOS

Sunday December 27, 2020 SEAL WALK

Several swimming harbor seals seen during an early monitoring session. ~45 harbor seals hauled-out on secondary haul-out area far to the northeast.

PHOTOS

Friday January 1, 2021 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

~37 harbor seals (~25 hauled-out on secondary area, 2 on rocks, ~10 swimming)

PHOTOS

Saturday January 2, 2021 NYS DEC 1ST DAY HIKE

5 harbor seals swimming

PHOTOS

Wednesday January 6, 2021 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

171 seals (170 harbor seals and 1 gray seal) hauled out on the primary area 

PHOTOS

VIDEO

Saturday January 9, 2021 SEAL WALK

50 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area, 4 on rocks

PHOTOS

Sunday January 10, 2021 SEAL WALK

43 Atlantic harbor seals hauled-out on primary area. We watched as the approach of a duck hunting boat triggered all seals to enter the water.  Several hauled out again about 10 minutes later and the same vessel caused them to scatter.  The seals willrespond to the sounds of vessels that have disturbed them in the past.  Unfortunately, this particular vessel has flushed seals from the sandbar on multiple occasions. We can't wait for duck season to end. While the seals don;t necessarily respond to the sounds of gunshot, they do remember the sounds of vessels and react accordingly.

PHOTOS

Tuesday January 12, 2021 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

~10 harbor seals swimming

PHOTOS

Thursday January 14, 2021 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

22 Atlantic harbor seals, some new and others not seen in quite a while at Cupsogue Beach. Disturbances caused seals to only haulout on the far NE area of the sandbar. Swimming seals were near shore. 17 seals hauled out and 5 swimming.

PHOTOS

Thursday January 21, 2021 SEAL MONITORING SESSION

~7 harbor seals swimming. Once again, the expected haulout wasn't there. We assume that significant disturbance must have happened prior to our presence. By this date last year we had almost 1200 seal encounters in 14 trips.  So far for this season, we've only had 802 seal encounters in 22 trips. We surely hope that the some of the disturbances will end with the end of duck hunting season. We implore all to be vigilant about NOT DISTURBING RESTING SEALS. Give seals their distance! If they react to you in any way it's time for you to STOP what you're doing, DROP down to be less visible, and LEAVE 

PHOTOS

Saturday January 23, 2021 MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK

The recent trend of limited haulout numbers continues with just 6 seen prior to our seal walk. None were present during the seal walk.

PHOTOS

Sunday January24, 2021 MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK

6 harbor seals ( 2 on rocks and 4 swimming) seen prior to our seal walk. 6 harbor seals were seen swimming suring our walk.  On our way back, some of us were treated to views of a resting snowy owl

PHOTOS

Tuesday January26, 2021 MONITORING SESSION

20 harbor seals ( 6 on rocks and 14 swimming)

PHOTOS

Thursday February 4, 2021 MONITORING SESSION

186 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area 

PHOTOS

VIDEO

Saturday February 6, 2021 MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK

176 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area 

PHOTOS

Wednesday February 10, 2021 MONITORING SESSION 

68 harbor seals. 9 hauled out on rocks, 15 swimming, 44 hauled out on secondary area at the eastern end of the sandbar

PHOTOS

Wednesday February 17, 2021 MONITORING SESSION 

78 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area of the sandbar

PHOTOS

Saturday February 20, 2021 SEAL WALK 

43 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on sandbar at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Sunday February 21, 2021 SEAL WALK 

65 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on sandbar at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Wednesday February 24, 2021 SEAL WALK for Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library

195 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on sandbar at the now recently being reused 2006 area 

PHOTOS

Saturday March 6, 2021 SEAL WALK

49 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at two distinct regions of the sandbar. 29 at the far NNE end, and 20 at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Sunday March 7, 2021 SEAL WALK

85 Atlantic harbor seals. 2 on rocks and 83 hauled out at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Tuesday March 9, 2021 MONITORING SESSION 

134 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Saturday March 20, 2021 SEAL WALK

128 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at the now recently being reused 2006 area

PHOTOS

Saturday March 21, 2021 SEAL WALK

12 Atlantic harbor seals swimming

PHOTOS

Wednesday March 23, 2021 MONITORING SESSION 

168 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at primary haulout area

PHOTOS

VIDEO

Saturday April 3, 2021 SEAL WALK

153 seals including 132 Atlantic harbor seals and 1 juvenile Atlantic gray seal hauled out at the reused 2006 area, and 20 hauled out further east near the Moriches Coast Guard Station

PHOTOS

Sunday April 4, 2021 SEAL WALK

192 seals including 189 Atlantic harbor seals and 3 juvenile Atlantic gray seals hauled out at the reused 2006 area. We watched as they reacted a sound to the west, most of the seals turned to their left (west) and half entered the water, then the rest went in. Most seals headed to the inlet and about 60 swam to the tertiary haulout area nearer the Moriches Coast Guard station

PHOTOS

Sunday April 18, 2021 SEAL WALK

93 seals including 90 Atlantic harbor seals and 3 juvenile Atlantic gray seals hauled out at the reused 2006 area when we arrived. They were flushed into the water, but began to return within a few minutes. 11 minutes after being flushed,there were 69 seals (1 juvenile Atlantic gray seal and 62 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the sandbar with 6 harbor seals swimming). In about another 20 minutes they will be flushed again by a kayaker. KAYAKERS, STAY AWAY FROM RESTING SEALS!!

PHOTOS

Saturday April 24, 2021 SEAL WALK An Atlantic gray seal pup and an Atlantic harbor seal juvenile

PHOTOS

Sunday May 2, 2021 SEAL WALK

We weren't sure if the seals were still around. From a great distance, we saw an Atlantic gray seal pup move into the water. Slowly,as we walked to our viewing area (600 feet from the sand bar), we found that the seal had returned. Later it would ultimately be joined by 3 other Atlantic gray seal pups and 2 Atlantic harbor seal juveniles. Patience and quite observation led to our success.

PHOTOS

     

2019-2020 SEAL SIGHTINGS AT CUPSOGUE

Date

Status

Type of trip

Saturday, November 23, 2019
5 Harbor seals swimming

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Saturday, December 7,  2019

90 harbor seals hauled-out on main sandbar, including some old-timers back for their 16th year

SEAL WALK

Sunday, December 8, 2019

70 seals seen at 8:30 AM were spooked off the haulout by a slow moving vessel within 2 minutes.  By the time we arrived at 10:00 only about 10 were seen swimming

SEAL WALK

Monday, December 17, 2019

96 harbor seals hauled-out on main sandbar,

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Saturday, December 21, 2019

103 seals were hauled out on the main sandbar during an early monitoring session, but once again had been spooked off the haulout while we were away.  When we arrived at 10:00 only 8 hauled out rocks. PHOTOS UNAVAILABLE

SEAL WALK

Sunday, December 22, 2019

113 harbor seals were hauled out on the main sandbar during our early monitoring session. Unbelievably, yet again, they had been flushed from the haulout by the time we returned 2 hours later.

Surprisingly, we found 30 seals hauled out on a distant sandbar northeast of the usual haulout (secondary haul-out site).  With patience, we were ultimately watch 30 additional harbor seals haul back onto the main haulout site!

SEAL WALK

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

127 harbor seals were hauled out on the main sandbar

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Sunday, January 05, 2020

102 harbor seals were hauled out on the main sandbar

SEAL WALK

Friday, January 10, 2020

25 harbor seals hauled out on their secondary region of the sandbar, utilized when disturbed from the main area

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Sunday, January 12, 2020

73 harbor seals (70 on seals were hauled out on the main sandbar and 3 on rocks)

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Saturday, January 18, 2020

87 harbor seals (78 on seals were hauled out on the main sandbar and 9 on rocks)

 

Sunday, January 19, 2020

64 harbor seals (61 on main sandbar and 3 on rocks)

SEAL WALK

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

137 harbor seals (130 on main sandbar and 7 on rocks)

Prior to a seal walk for the Saxon Middle School of Patchogue, @DrArtieK photographed and took video of 137 harbor seals hauled out (130 on the sandbar and 7 on the rocks) at Cupsogue. With the school group, we stopped at the newer parking area just to get a glimpse of the seals from a distance. We watched in disbelief as an airplane (C-FBKB of Kenn Borek Air Limited) flew over the seals and spooked all into the water. The plane continued to fly over the area repeatedly and we were able to get clear photos to send to the authorities

SEAL WALK FOR SAXTON MIDDLE SCHOOL (PATCHOGUE)

Friday, January 24, 2020

17 harbor seals (12 on rocks and 5 in water)

Prior to this seal monitoring session, @DrArtieK noticed a guy in a wet-suit eastward down the road to the parking with his dog (light colored lab). Dr. K. had a bad feeling that the seals were gone. The man got in his car and drove down to the area where we take people to view seals, he loaded his paddleboard and drove past. Of course the seals were not on the sandbar and about 12 were on the rocks with about another 5 swimming. Dr. K. didn’t see him spook the seals, but knew he had done so (he's done it repeatedly).

Harassment is defined by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) essentially as any action that causes a marine mammal to significantly alter its behavior. Folks, if you ever see someone purposefully or regularly causing harassment, please try to capture it on video and contact me (ahkopelman@cresli.org). I will share with you the contact information for NOAA Fisheries and NYSDEC Police enforcement agents.

We are so lucky to live in a place where we have 19 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and 5 species of seals (pinnipeds).

Let's share the waters with them in peace.

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Sunday, January 26, 2020

105 harbor seals on main sandbar

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Sunday, February 02, 2020

157 harbor seals on main sandbar

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION

Saturday, February 08, 2020

31 harbor seals hauled out during a monitoring session prior to the scheduled seal walk.  These seals were exceedingly nervous and most appeared to have recently left the water. The behavior was most-likely the results of prior harassment. 20 harbor seals were hauled-out when we arrived later for the seal walk

SEAL WALK
Sunday, February 09, 2020

60-80 harbor seals hauled out during a monitoring session prior to the scheduled seal walk.  Just before we were ready to document the haulout with photos, a single-engine propeller plane flew south of the haulout area just over the ocean.  The moment these seals heard this plane in the distance, all of them jumped into the water. Once again, this behavior was most-likely the results of prior harassment by the same aircraft.  16 harbor seals retuned to the sandbar 25 minutes later. 1.5 hours later, 6 harbor seals were eventually found swimming near the near-shore rocky haulout area during our seal walk after 25 minutes after we arrived.

SEAL WALK
Monday, February 10, 2020
78 harbor seals on main sandbar

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
133 harbor seals on main sandbar

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
Sunday, February 16, 2020
142 harbor seals on main sandbar

 

SEAL WALK
Monday, February 17, 2020
177 seals (176 harbor seals and 1 juvenile gray seal) hauled out during a monitoring session prior to a scheduled seal walk for Stony Brook University MAR395.  Once again, a single-engine propeller plane flew south of the haulout area just over the ocean.  The moment these seals heard this plane AGAIN in the distance, all of them jumped into the water.  

 

This time we were able to capture the plane's # and though social media were able to find out whom to contact regarding the plane owners and the flying school who's training flights have been causing the seals to flush. We hope that theyv are able to effect changes in where or when they fly.

 

SEAL WALK for Marine Mammals Research Techniques course at Stony Brook Southampton
Saturday, February 22, 2020
138 harbor seals hauled out

 

SEAL WALK
Sunday, February 23, 2020
110 harbor seals hauled out

 

SEAL WALK
Monday, February 24, 2020
124 seals (123 harbor seals and 1 juvenile gray seal)

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Thursday, March 5, 2020
201 seals (200 harbor and 1 juvenile gray) prior to a walk for the Greenport Elementary School 5th grade.

 

Amazingly there were 218 seals (217 harbor and 1 juvenile gray) when we arrived

 

SEAL WALK FOR GREENPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5TH GRADE
 Saturday, March 7, 2020
30 harbor seals 

Wild, windy, and high water levels 

 

 SEAL WALK
 Sunday, March 8, 2020
182 seals hauled out (1 gray seal and 181 harbor seals) prior and during our seal walk. Once again, as we watched, a private vessel got too close to the seals and 94 seals were spooked into the water. Come one folks, we can do better.

The incident was captured on video and the vessels ID # was sent to the authorities for violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

 SEAL WALK
 Sunday, March 16, 2020
30 seals swimming

 

 SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, March 18, 2020
192 seals hauled out (1 gray seal and 191 harbor seals). 

 

 SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, March 24, 2020
152 seals hauled out (1 gray seal and 151 harbor seals). 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, March 27, 2020
149 seals hauled out (1 gray seal and 148 harbor seals). 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Saturday, April 4, 2020
104 seals hauled out (1 gray seal on the ocean side and 148 harbor seals on the sandbar). 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, April 12, 2020
3 harbor seals seals swimming in Moriches Bay and 1 gray seal pup hauled out on the ocean side

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Thursday, April 16, 2020
76 seals hauled out: 4 gray seal pups and 70 harbor seals on the sandbar in the bay. On the ocean side, 1 sub-adult gray seal and 1 gray seal pup hauled out

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Tuesday, April 28, 2020
8 seals hauled out: 3 gray seal pups and 5 harbor seals on the sandbar in the bay. 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, May 3, 2020
28 seals hauled out: 3 gray seal pups and 25 harbor seals on the sandbar in the bay. 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION
 Sunday, May 7, 2020
25 seals hauled out: 2 gray seal pups and 23 harbor seals on the sandbar in the bay. 

 

SEAL MONITORING SESSION


2018-2019 CRESLI Seal Sightings at Cupsogue Beach

Date

Status

Type of trip

Sunday,
November 18, 2018
2 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday, November 24, 2018 2 harbor seals were seen during research monitoring but were unfortunately not seen during the seal walk Research and Seal Walk
Sunday,
November 25, 2018
2 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Monday,
December 03, 2018
77 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday,
December 08, 2018
93 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Monday,
December 17, 2018
53 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday,
December 22, 2018
34 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
December 23, 2018
24 harbor seals seen during monitoring. Just before arrival for our walk, the seals were chased off the sandbar by a vessel approaching too closely. Please keep your distance from seals.

Photos
Research and Seal Walk
Thursday,
December 27, 2018
53 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Sunday,
December 30, 2018
120 harbor seals
 Photos
Seal Walk
Thursday,
January 03, 2019
110 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Wednesday,
January 16, 2019
132 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Thursday,
January 17, 2019
132 harbor seals

Photos
Seal walk for South Ocean Middle School
Friday,
January 18, 2019
117 harbor seals

Photos
Seal monitoring with the Waldorf School of Garden City
Saturday,
January 19, 2019
123 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Saturday,
February 02, 2019
105 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
February 03, 2019
52 seals hauled out early on the sand bar; they were flushed later and about 20 ultimately hauled-out on the near shore rocks

Photos
Research & Seal Walk
Saturday,
February 16, 2019
122 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
February 17, 2019
118 harbor seals

Photos
Research & Seal Walk
Friday,
February 22, 2019
92 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday,
March 02, 2019
20 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
March 03, 2019
92 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Friday,
March 08, 2019
96 harbor seals

Photos
Seal monitoring with the Waldorf School of Garden City
Saturday,
March 16, 2019
91 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
March 17, 2019
101 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Wednesday,
March 20, 2019
104 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Friday,
March 29, 2019
157 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk for Little Peepers Forest School
Saturday,
March 30, 2019
136 harbor seals during post-sunrise monitoring session. All seals on the sandbar had been flushed before our scheduled walk.

~40 were swimming and another 20 were hauled out on the rocks near shore.

The seals on the rocks were flushed by an illegal close approach by Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels.  the incident had been taped and a report to the authorities will be sent

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
March 31, 2019
51 harbor seals: (28 on near-shore rocks & 23 on sandbar)

Photos
Seal Walk
Friday,
April 05, 2019
20 swimming harbor seals

Photos
Seal monitoring with the Waldorf School of Garden City
Saturday,
April 13, 2019
22 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
April 14, 2019
~128 harbor seals in dense fog

Photos
Seal Walk
Tuesday,
April 16, 2019
109 hauled-out harbor seals

Photos
Seal monitoring with the Waldorf School of Garden City
Saturday,
April 27, 2019
17 hauled-out harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday,
April 28, 2019
14 harbor seals hauled out at the far northeastern of the sandbar. This has never been seen in 14 years of monitoring.

Photos
Seal Walk

 


 

2017-2018 CRESLI Seal Sightings

at Cupsogue Beach

Best of the 2017-2018 Seal WALK Season

Date Status Trip type
Sunday, November 12, 2017 2 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday, November 18, 2017 3 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 54 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Sunday, December 03, 2017 36 harbor seals during research monitoring

Photos from Research Monitoring

2 Harbor seals during seal walk

Photos from Seal Walk
Research and Seal Walk
Monday, December 11, 2017 60 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday, December 16, 2017 101 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday, December 17, 2017 109 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Monday, December 18, 2017 93 harbor seals

Photos
Seal WALK for South Ocean Middle School
Saturday, December 30, 2017 51 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Wednesday, January 03, 2018 118 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 17 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Sunday, January 14, 2018 6 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday, January 21, 2018 98 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Saturday, January 27, 2018 83 harbor seals

Photos
Research
Friday, February 09, 2018 120 harbor seals

Photos
Seal walk for Saxon Middle School
Saturday, February 10, 2018 100 harbor seals

Photos
Seal walk
Saturday, February 17, 2018 80 harbor seals hauled out during monitoring session at 11:25 AM. Unfortunately, by the time we returned after 1:00 PM, all the seals were flushed from the haul-out site and about 12 were swimming in the area.

People were too close to the water and many were allowing their dogs to run up and down the beach. Not only is this disturbing to the seals, it's against the law. Come on folks, leave the seals alone. Stay back and stay low.


Photos and video - before the walk and during the walk
Seal Research and Seal Walk
Sunday, February 18, 2018 67 harbor seals hauled out during monitoring session at 11:20-11:40 AM. Unfortunately, by the time we returned after 1:00 PM, all the seals were flushed from the haul-out site and about 25 were swimming in the area. Eventualy about 10 hauled out

According to someone who ws there, the seals had been flushed by a vessel.
Photos and video - before the walk

Photos during the walk
Seal Research and Seal Walk
Saturday, February 24, 2018 107 harbor seals hauled out during monitoring session.

We saw an estimated 120 from far away, but just as we got arrived, something (not us) had triggered seals to go into the water. We dropped on our knees and waited quietly up on the bluff and were able to watch almost all return over the next 25 minutes. This is a sight that very few people have the privilege of seeing. 

Ultimately there were 108 harbor seals hauled out

Photos and video
Seal Research and Seal Walk
Saturday, March 10, 2018 107 harbor seals

Photos
Seal walk
Sunday, March 11, 2018 73 harbor seals were hauled out onto the sandbar just after sunrise (~7:15 AM) during an early  monitoring session.

Unfortunately, during the seal walk only approximately 12 were seen swimming in the area. Luckily, we were able to get great views and photos.


Photos
Seal walk
Monday, March 12, 2018 121 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Research
Friday, March 16, 2018 103 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk for Home School Science Group
Saturday, March 17, 2018 104 harbor seals and 1 grey seal pup

Photos
Seal Walk
Sunday, March 25, 2018 72 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk
Friday, April 13, 2018 51 harbor seals

Photos and Video
Seal Walk
Saturday, April 14, 2018 57 harbor seals hauled out early (at 10:30 AM) during research observations.

All had been flushed from the sandbar some time before the seal-walk group arrived. Eventually we saw 6 harbor seals swimming in the area.


Photos
Seal Research and Seal walk
Friday, April 27, 2018 16 harbor seals hauled out on rocks.

Photos
Seal Research
Saturday, April 28, 2018 60 harbor seals hauled out on sandbar early (at 9:30 AM) during research observations.
No photos were taken due to the dense fog.

Despite the dense fog, a vessel (named Susan Anne) approach the seals and flushed them from the sandbar (a violation of NY and federal law).

As the seal-walk group arrived at midday, the fog began to lift. No seals were hauled out, but several were seen feeding on bunker. Not many seals, but an amazing view of feeding.


Photos
Seal Research and Seal walk
Sunday, April 29, 2018 32 harbor seals

Photos
Seal Walk


2016-2017 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 patientlyOur 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

 


 

BEST PHOTOS OF THE 2013-14 SEASON
-Flash version

 

BEST PHOTOS OF THE 2013-14 SEASON -
html version (for iPad and iPhone users)

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)

 

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)
 

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
 

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)
 

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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
 

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

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)

Research and
seal walk
     

Harbor seals at Cupsogue Beach, December 15, 2013Harbor seals at Cupsogue Beach, December 15, 2013


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) Research
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 65 harbor seals (hauled out)
 
Research
Sunday, 
December 23, 2012
12 harbor seals (swimming and feeding)
 
Seal walk
Friday, 
December 28, 2012
12 harbor seals (swimming)
 
Research
Tuesday, 
January 01, 2013
32 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming) Research
sunday, 
January 06, 2013
46 harbor seals (hauled out)
 
seal walk
Tuesday, 
January 08, 2013
30 harbor seals (swimming and interacting with gulls) Research
Friday,
January 11, 2013
8 harbor seals (swimming)
 
Seal walk for Oregon Middle School, Medford
Saturday,
January 12, 2013
6 harbor seals (swimming and hauled out; dense fog) Seal walk
Sunday,
January 13, 2013
4 harbor seals (swimming and harassed by helicopter).

Helicopter was photographed and ID reported to the federal authorities.

 
Seal walk
Monday, 
January 21, 2013
39 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)
 
Research
Saturday, 
January 26, 2013
58 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)
 
seal walk
Sunday, 
January 27, 2013
85 harbor seals (hauled out and swimming)
 
seal walk
Sunday, 
February 24, 2013
51 harbor seals (hauled out)
 

seal walk
Sunday, 
March 3, 2013
20 harbor seals (swimming) 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.
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.
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.

 
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

 
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 waterrphotos 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
Seal walk
03/21/10
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
Seal walk
04/11/10
Research trip followed by seal walk
04/14/10 57 Harbor seals and 1 grey seal
Research trip
04/18/10
Seal walk
04/24/10
Research trip followed by seal walk
04/30/10 4  Harbor seals
Research trip
05/05/10 4  Harbor seals
Research trip
     

 


2008-2009

12/05/2008 MontaukPoint State Park 2 Grey seals
12/27/2008 Cupsogue Beach 4 harbor seals
01/02/2009 MontaukPoint State Park 60 seals (56 harbor seals and 4 grey seals)
01/10/2009 Cupsogue Beach 12 harbor seals and 2 grey seals
01/24/09 Cupsogue Beach 12 Harbor seals
01/25/09 Cupsogue Beach (special group trip)  24 Harbor seals
02/06/09 Cupsogue Beach 30 Harbor seals
02/08/09 Cupsogue Beach  63 Harbor seals,  1 hooded seal, and 1 ringed seal
02/21/09 Cupsogue Beach  7 Harbor seals
02/27/09 Cupsogue Beach  (special trip)  25 Harbor seals
03/06/09 MontaukPoint State Park 6 harbor seals
03/08/09 Cupsogue Beach   46 Harbor seals and 2 Grey seals
03/21/09 Cupsogue Beach   60 Harbor seals
03/28/09 Cupsogue Beach   20 Harbor seals  
04/04/09 Cupsogue Beach  (walk cancelled due to extreme winds)

 50 Harbor seals*  

04/05/09 Cupsogue Beach  55 Harbor  and 3 Grey seals**   

* on 4/04/09, extreme winds (30+ knots, gusting to 45 knots) forced the trip to be cancelled on-site.  Seal observations  and photographs were by CRESLI's Dr. A. H. Kopelman later that morning.

** on 4/05/09, seals were flushed from the haulout site shortly after our arrival and were kept off the haulout site by the presence of a vessel constantly travelling back and forth through the groups of seals in the water.  The vessel operator then wrongly decided to bring the vessel onto the sandbar just adjacent to the haulout site.  His actions could be in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act  and the vessels number will be submitted to the  appropriate authorities.


2007-2008

12/21/2007 MontaukPoint State Park 2 harbor seals; 2 grey seals
12/23/07 Cupsogue Beach County Park 2 harbor seals

click on the link for photos

1/4/2008 Montauk Point State Park 5 harbor seals

click  for photos

01/05/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park

27 harbor seals;  1 hooded seal (female)

click here for photos

 01/20/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 34 harbor seals; 1 grey seal

click here for photos

2/02/08  Cupsogue Beach County Park 35 Harbor seals

click here for photos

2/15/2008 Montauk Point State Park  2 Harbor seals

click here for photos

02/17/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 80 Harbor seals

click here for photos

02/23/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 37 Harbor seals; 1 grey seal

click here for photos

3/02/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 28 Harbor seals

click here for photos

3/14/2008 Montauk Point State Park 43 harbor seals; 5 grey seals
03/16/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 90 Harbor seal; 5 grey seals; 2 harp seals
3/19/2008 seal walk for Academy of Environmental Science Secondary High School, NYC Cupsogue Beach County Park 20 harbor seals 1 harp seal

(rain and fog; past low tide)

3/20/2008 seal walk for Suffolk County Home Schooling Group Cupsogue Beach County Park 8 harbor seals

(extremely windy conditions)

03/22/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 72 Harbor seal; 5 grey seals; 1 harp seals
04/06/08 Cupsogue Beach County Park 42 harbor seals; 1 grey seal
4/11/2008 Montauk Point State Park  4 harbor seals
4/12/2008 Scout Troop 560 Cupsogue Beach County Park
25 harbor seals
04/13/08 Scout Troop 120 Cupsogue Beach County Park

29 harbor seals

4/25/2008 Montauk Point State Park  1 harbor seal
5/2/2008 Montauk Point State Park  1 harbor seal

 


2006-2007

Friday Dec 15, 2006

09:30 AM
Montauk

22 seals (2 grey seals; 20 harbor seals) click here for photos

Friday Jan 12, 2007
08:00 AM Montauk

78 seals (52 harbor seals; 25 grey seals, and 1 harp seal): 73 at the haulout site (53 on the rocks [35 harbor seals; 17 grey seals; and 1 juvenile harp]; 20 in the water (17 harbor and 3 grey); 5  in the water east of the haulout site (3 harbor and 2 grey)

click here for photos

Saturday Jan 27, 2007 08:00 AM Cupsogue 18 seals (18 harbor seals).  Click here for photos.
Saturday Feb 17, 2007 12:00 PM Cupsogue 1 harbor seal
Sunday Feb 25, 2007 8:00 AM Cupsogue 27 seals (20 harbor seals; 5 grey seals; 2 harp seals)

click here for  photos

Saturday March 3, 2007 12:30 PM Cupsogue 5 seals (4 harbor seals; 1 grey seal)

click here for  photos

Sunday Match 4, 2007
  • SPECIAL TRIP FOR SUFFOLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 
12:00 PM Cupsogue 7 seals (3 harbor seals; 3 grey seals; 1 harp seal) hauled out

click here for  photos

Monday March 26, 2007
  • SPECIAL SEAL CRUISE FOR East Hampton  High School

 
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Outer islands of eastern sound 365 seals

110 Grey seals
255 Harbor seals

click here for photos

Friday March 30, 2007 11:00 AM Montauk 6 seals (6 harbor seals hauled out including a female being strangled by debris)

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Sunday  April 1, 2007

1:00 PM Cupsogue 1 harbor seal (at a distance)
Saturday April 14, 2007 11:00 AM Cupsogue 6 seals (1 Grey and 5 harbor seals)

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Sunday May 13, 2007 11:00 AM Montauk 1 harbor seal

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2005-2006

DATE

STATUS
FRIDAY 12/30/2005
6 harbor seals seen in the water near the Camp Hero haul out site.
FRIDAY 01/06/2006
4 harbor seals around the main hail-out site

Pounding surf and high winds at haulout site

FRIDAY 01/27/2006
4 harbor seals seen in the water near the Camp Hero haul out site.
SUNDAY 01/29/2006
67 seals at the main haul-out site: 61 harbor seals; 6 grey seals

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FRIDAY 02/10/2006
2 harbor seals: 1 at the main haul-out site; 1 at Camp Hero

Pounding surf  and high winds at haulout site

SUNDAY 02/26/2006
1 harbor seal south of Camp Hero
FRIDAY 03/10/2006
6 harbor seals seen in the water near the main haul out site.

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SUNDAY 3/12/2006

NYBTA trip

27 seals at main haulout site; 25 harbor seals and 2 grey seals

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FRIDAY 03/24/2006
26 seals at main haulout site; 22 harbor seals and 4 grey seals

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SATURDAY 03/25/2006

Cub Scout Pack 438 from Bohemia @ Cupsogue Beach

69 seals: 65 harbor seals and 4 grey seals

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SUNDAY 03/26/2006
2 harbor seals and 1 grey seal in water near main haulout

Pounding surf at haulout site

FRIDAY 04/21/2006
4  harbor seals  in water near main haulout

Pounding surf at haulout site

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FRIDAY 05/05/2006
2 harbor  and 1 grey seal hauled out

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2004-2005

DATE
STATUS
SATURDAY, 12/25/04
canceled due to illness
SUNDAY, 01/09/05
16 -20 harbor seals
SATURDAY, 01/22/05
CANCELED due to impending storm
SATURDAY, 02/05/05
SUNDAY, 03/06/05
20 seals (12 hauled out; 8 in water)
SATURDAY, 03/19/05
1 harbor seal (in water)
SUNDAY, 04/17/05
5 harbor seals (in water)
*FRIDAY 4/22/05 (class trip)
50 harbor seals (45 on rocks)

SUNDAY, 05/15/05
10 harbor seals (9 on rocks)
SUNDAY, 05/22/05

7 harbor seals

2003-2004

2003/4 DATE
STATUS
SATURDAY, 11/22/03 4-5 harbor seals in the water, 0.3 miles west of the haul-out zone
SATURDAY,12/06/03 cancelled due to winter storm
SUNDAY, 12/21/03 8 harbor seals and 1 grey seal in water
SATURDAY, 01/03/04 125 harbor seals (82 on rocks, 43 in water); 2 grey seals
SATURDAY, 01/31/04 22 seals as follows: 3 harbor seals  and 1 grey seal floating on ice; 17 harbor seals and 1 grey seal in  the water.
SUNDAY, 02/15/04 25 harbor seals at Camp Hero: 19 on rocks; 6 in water
SATURDAY, 04/03/04 bad weather caused us hike over to the Camp Hero haul-out site; no seals were seen
SATURDAY, 05/08/04 ~12 seals in the water including several young harp, grey and harbor seals
SUNDAY, 05/16/04 36 seals hauled out

2002-2003

DATE
STATUS
December 29, 2002

13 harbor seals (1 hauled out; 12 in the water)

January 12, 2003 20 seals in water (1 grey seal; 19 harbor seals)
January 25, 2003 8 harbor seals in the water

(haul out area was covered in ice)

February 15, 2003 15 harbor seals (2 hauled out; others in water)
March 15, 2003 30 harbor seals (24 hauled out; 6 in water)
April 27, 2003 6 harbor seals (2 hauled out; 4 in water)
May 25, 2003 2 seals known to be in the area, but none were spotted today

2001-2002

DATE
STATUS
December 8, 2001
6 harbor seals sighted
January 6, 2002

 
70 seals sighted (35 hauled out and 35 in water)
Around 7:00 AM, 2 fin whales were sighted by CRESLI's Artie Kopelman and Amanda Johnson, 1.5 miles offshore from overlook on Old Montauk Highway  in Montauk;

at 9:30 that morning a fin whale was sighted by Art Cooley about 1.5-2.0 miles SE of Montauk Point

January 26, 2002

9 harbor seals and 1 grey seal (all in the water)
February 23, 2002
15-20 harbor seals (3-5 hauled out; 12-15 in water)
March 9, 2002

Click here to see a video from this trip (Windows Media Format 2.7 Mb); or here to see a video in Real Player format (1.7 Mb)

19 Harbor seals (13 hauled out; 6 in  the water) and 1 grey seal (in the water).

March 24, 2002

20 seals (19 harbor seals and 1 grey seal).

April 06, 2002

2 harbor seals (in the water near the lighthouse). 

High NNW winds kept seals off the rocks of the haul-out area; we searched the area on the leeward side and around the lighthouse instead.

April 21, 2002
5 harbor seals (swimming near the haul out zone)
May 4, 2002
no seals



PLEASE! PLEASE!  All of us involved in monitoring the seals  at Montauk would prefer that you view the seals in a supervised naturalist led walk.  If too many people continue to disturb the haul out zone, the seals may abandon it in the future. 

REMEMBER, DO NOT COME WITHIN  70 YARDS OF THE HAUL OUT ZONE  WHEN SEALS ARE HAULED OUT.    Do not approach the seals from the beach side, use the back trail instead.  If you don't know about the trail, don't go - wait and join a supervised trip led by CRESLI, or led by the park staff (for Montauk State Park led  trips call 631-668-5000).


Click here for images from previous seal walks

Click here to see last year's sightings report

Click here to return to the seal walk schedule

Click here for Seal Cruise information

 

CRESLI is a non-profit organization as defined in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of the last financial report filed with the Department of State may be obtained by writing to NYS Dept. of State, Office of Charities Registration, Albany, NY 12231.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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