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"
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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
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Saturday, December 17, 2022 Seal walk
108 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 17, 2022 seal walk
|
| Sunday, December 18, 2022 Seal walk
108 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) observed during our December 18, 2022 seal walk
|
| 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
|
| Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Seal walk for Eastern Suffolk BOCES Islip Academic Center
2 harbor seals seen swimming
|
| 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
|
| 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.
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| Wednesday, January 17, 2023
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
137 harbor seals hauled (130 on the primary haulout area , with 7 on the secondary area)
|
| Thursday, January 18, 2023
SEAL WALK for the SAXTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
142 harbor seals hauled on the secondary area.
|
| 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.
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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.
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| Saturday, February 18, 2023
SEAL WALK
4 Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) on the rocks at Cupsogue Beach
|
| 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
|
| 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."
|
| Friday, March 17, 2023
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
153 harbor seals, 148 on the sandbar and 5 swimming
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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!
|
| 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
|
| 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)
|
| 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).
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
CRESLI 2021/2022 SEAL SIGHTINGS AT CUPSOGUE BEACH
| OBSERVATIONS |
|---|
| Monday November 15, 2021
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
21 Harbor seals hauled-out
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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.
|
| 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
|
| 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.
|
| Friday, December 31, 2021
SEAL WALK
Approximately 70 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out, in the "new" area NNE
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Sunday, January 16, 2022
SEAL WALK
12 harbor seals observed swimming
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| Friday, January 28, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
146 Atlantic harbor seals on the primary haulout area in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach
|
| 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
|
| 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!
|
| Sunday, February 13, 2022
SEAL WALK
5 Atlantic harbor seals swimming and cavorting on a snowy morning
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Thursday, February 24, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
5 harbor seals swimming (including old-timers "Starburst" and "Horseshoe," as well as the new "Theta right.". All others were gone.
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| Saturday, February 26, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION followed by a SEAL WALK
No seals were hauled out on the sand bar prior to or during the seal walk. 8 seals were seen in total, 4 before the walk and another 4 during the walk, all were on and/or near the rocky haulout area.
|
| 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.
|
| Wednesday, March 2, 2022
SEAL WALK
We found 92-106 seals hauled out on the NE tertiary haulout region of sandbar and later found 1 seal hauled out on rocks
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| Thursday, March 10, 2022
SEAL MONITORING SESSION
101 Atlantic harbor seals on the tertiary haulout area on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay at Cupsogue Beach.
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| Sunday, March 13, 2022
SEAL WALK
Once again, with strong winds out of the NW, seals were swimming or hauled out on the rocks and stayed in the lee of the wind. The newly named "theta right" was seen swimming. Looking back over images, it was determined that "theta right" is the entangled seal we've seen now for 13 years. It is still being strangled by plastic
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| Saturday, March 26, 2022
SEAL WALK
168 seals were seen this day, including 1 Atlantic gray seal and 161 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the sandbar and 4 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the rocks seen during our seal walk. After the walk Dr. Kopelman was told by Cupsogue Beach Superintendant Ryan Sommerville, of a seal on the ocean side lying at the high tide wrack line. This was a yearling harp seal. The seal was reported to the NYS Stranding Hotline (631) 369-9829. All harp seal photos were taken at 200' with a 600mm telephoto lens.
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| Sunday, March 27, 2022
SEAL WALK
Interactions between ~50 Atlantic harbor seals and juvenile bald eagles on the secondary (closer) haulout area of the sandbar in Moriches Bay. Eventually all seals were flushed by the eagles. Later 1 young gray seal hauled out on the rocks
|
| Wednesday, March 30, 2022
124 Atlantic harbor and 1 gray seal hauled out on the far NE edge of the sandbar in Moriches Bay
|
| Thursday, April 07, 2022
1 Atlantic harbor seals swimming in Moriches Bay
|
| 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
|
| 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.
|
| Thursday, April 14, 2022
On this seal walk we encountered 30 seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar Moriches Bay.
|
| Saturday, April 23, 2022
12 harbor seals hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar in Moriches Bay
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| Sunday, April 24, 2022
19 harbor seals were hauled out on the far NE region of the sandbar Moriches Bay and photographed from 670 yards away prior to the seal walk. When we arrived over an hour later, the seals were gone from the NE region of the sandbar. We stayed and talked and eventually were able to watch a lone harbor repeatedly haul-out and return to the water.
|
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
|
| Monday November 09, 2020 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | 2 harbor seals swimming
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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.
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| Sunday, November 29, 2020 | SEAL WALK | 35 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area
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| Thursday December 10, 2020 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | 83 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area
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| 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.
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| Wednesday December 23, 2020 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | 83 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area
|
| Saturday December 26, 2020 | SEAL WALK | Several swimming harbor seals seen during an early monitoring session and during the seal walk
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| 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.
|
| Friday January 1, 2021 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | ~37 harbor seals (~25 hauled-out on secondary area, 2 on rocks, ~10 swimming)
|
| Saturday January 2, 2021 | NYS DEC 1ST DAY HIKE | 5 harbor seals swimming
|
| Wednesday January 6, 2021 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | 171 seals (170 harbor seals and 1 gray seal) hauled out on the primary area
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| Saturday January 9, 2021 | SEAL WALK | 50 harbor seals hauled-out on primary area, 4 on rocks
|
| 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.
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| Tuesday January 12, 2021 | SEAL MONITORING SESSION | ~10 harbor seals swimming
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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
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| Tuesday January26, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION | 20 harbor seals ( 6 on rocks and 14 swimming)
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| Thursday February 4, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION | 186 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area
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| Saturday February 6, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION and SEAL WALK | 176 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area
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| 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
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| Wednesday February 17, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION | 78 harbor seals hauled out on the primary area of the sandbar
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| Saturday February 20, 2021 | SEAL WALK | 43 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on sandbar at the now recently being reused 2006 area
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| Sunday February 21, 2021 | SEAL WALK | 65 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on sandbar at the now recently being reused 2006 area
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| Tuesday March 9, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION | 134 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at the now recently being reused 2006 area
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| Saturday March 20, 2021 | SEAL WALK | 128 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at the now recently being reused 2006 area
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| Saturday March 21, 2021 | SEAL WALK | 12 Atlantic harbor seals swimming
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| Wednesday March 23, 2021 | MONITORING SESSION | 168 Atlantic harbor seals hauled out at primary haulout area
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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!!
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| Saturday April 24, 2021 | SEAL WALK | An Atlantic gray seal pup and an Atlantic harbor seal juvenile |
| 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.
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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 | 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 |
| 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 |
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 |
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 | 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 |
Best photos of the 2015-2016 seal season
| Date | Status | Trip type |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, November 21, 2015 | 1 habor seal swimming | Seal walk |
| Sunday, November 22, 2015 | 6 harbor seals hauled out PHOTOS | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, December 06, 2015 | 70 harbor seals hauled out PHOTOS | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Monday, December 07, 2015 | 71 harbor seals hauled out at 8:30 AM. THE SEALS WERE OCCASIONALLY ON ALERT AFTER HEARING GUN SHOTS FROM DISTANT HUNTERS. AFTER SHOTS CEASE, THE SEALS RELAX UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND OF SHOTS. RETURNED AT 11:00 am WITH THE SCHOOL GROUP (OREGON MIDDLE SCHOOL) AND ONLY 6 WERE STILL THERE- THE MAJORITY HAD BEEN FLUSHED FROM THE SITE INADVERTENTLY BY A SHORE-BASED FISHER. THE 6 REMAINING INDIVIDUALS WERE FLUSHED BY THE PASSAGE OF A US COAST GUARD VESSEL AT HIGH SPEED PHOTOS VIDEO | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK for the Oregon Middle School |
| Sunday, December 12, 2015 | 2 harbor seals swimming instead of being hauled out Too many boats and too many people on the shore near the haulout on a spring-like day in December and the seals had been obviously spooked off the haulout site. Let's hope that this isn't a regular occurrence this year. Looking forward to real winter-like weather soon. PHOTOS | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| SAturday, December 19, 2015 | 61 harbor seals (59 hauled out and 2 in the water) Photos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Sunday, December 20, 2015 | 15-20 harbor seals in the water feeding on bunker (Atlantic menhaden) Photos | SEAL WALK |
| Tuesday, December 22, 2015 | 70 harbor seals. The seals were originally split into two groups seperated by 240 yards, a large group of nearly 31 and a second group of 15. The larger group continued to increase in number and within 30 minutes grew to 55, while the second group remained at 10. Within 45 minutes of our arrival the seals from the secondary joined the others. Photos Video 1 Video 2 | SEAL RESEARCH |
| SAturday, December 26, 2015 | 12 harbor seals (3 hauled out briefly early) then and all 12 in the water) Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Monday, December 28, 2015 | 25 harbor seals (20 hauled out; 5 in the water) Photos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| sUnday, jANUArY 3, 2016 | 79 harbor seals hauled-out at Cupsogue just at sunrise. 1.5 hours later 84 were hauled out until they were scared off the sandbar by a vessel (NY 7372 JZ). The vessel passed slowly south of the sandbar and some of the seals were on alert, but most were unaffected and remained on the haul-out site. The vessel then stopped just east of the haulout and sat for a mnute out of gear, then revved its engine (still out of gear) and that caused the seals to flush from the haulout. Within 40 seconds, all 84 seals entered the water. The vessel then proceeded to follow the seals towards the inlet. The incident will be reported to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Agents Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | 92 harbor seal hauled out Photos Video | SEAL RESEARCH |
| fRIday, January 8, 2016 | 65 harbor seals hauled-out Photo and Video | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Saturday, January 9, 2016 | 12 harbor seals SWIMMING (DISTURBED) Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | 12 HARBOR SEALS SWIMMING (DISTURBED); 2 ATTEMPED TO HAUL-OUT Photos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Sunday, January 17, 2016 | 106 HARBOR SEALS Hauled-out Photos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Wednesday, January 20, 2016 | 63 harbor seals hauled-out Photos | Seal Walk for East Quogue Elementary School |
| Friday, January 22, 2016 | 51 harbor seals hauled-out Photos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Sunday, January 31, 2016 | 44 harbor seals hauled-out The beautiful silence of the morning was pierced with frequent and disturbing sounds of shotgun fire. They sounded very close and were extremely loud. The seals reacted by changing to vigilant behavior and periodically bouncing in place while the guns blasted Photos and Videos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Monday, February 1, 2016 | 100 harbor seals hauled-out Photos and Videos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 85 harbor seals hauled-out Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, February 7, 2016 | 65 harbor seals seen around 9AM at Cupsogue on 2/7/2016. By 9:45 there would be about 90 seals, but half were scared off by vessels and people between 9:45 and 12:00 when we returned. Photos and Videos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Friday, February 19, 2016 | 92 harbor seals hauled-out Photos and Videos | SEAL RESEARCH |
| Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 98 harbor seals hauled-out. Unfortunately, Many of the seals were ultimately chased from the haul-out by some jerks on a boat. The vessels actions were recorded and are being sent to federal agents Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, February 21, 2016 | 155 harbor seals hauled-out. (2nd highest number in 11 years) Photos | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Monday, February 22, 2016 | 140 harbor seals hauled-out. Photos and Videos | RESEARCH |
| Saturday, February 27, 2016 | 96 harbor seals hauled-out. Photos | RESEARCH |
| Saturday, March 05, 2016 | 94 harbor seals hauled-out. We saw about 50 hauled-out as we walked down the road towards the viewing area. Once at the viewing area, as the CRESLI Crew walked to the snow fence to set up our equipment, while the rest of the people waited alohng the edge og the road, we saw that the seals had been flushed from the sand bar. Everyone was asked to approach the snow fence in small groups and wait patiently. Our patience was rewarded with a sight that very few people get to witness. We were able to watch the haul-out process. From no seals-hauled to to 94 seals hauled out over the course of 30 minutes!! Photos and Video | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, MArch 06, 2016 | 141 harbor seals hauled-out. Photos and Video | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, March 20, 2016 | 155 harbor seals and 1 grey seal hauled-out. Photos and Video | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Saturday, March 26, 2016 | 96 harbor seals seen and photographed about at 11:25 AM. Within 2 hours, unfortunately, the seals had been flushed from the sandbar and only 30 remained swimming in the area. eye-witnesses reported that many people were at the shore across from the haulout and half of the seals bolted. The other half were flushed by the close approach of a fast moving Suffols County Police vessel. Come on folks, let's give the seals a break. don't go down to the water's edge. Stay behind the snow fencing. Photos and Video | RESEARCH and SEAL WALK |
| Friday, April 8, 2016 | 63 harbor seals. Photos and Video | RESEARCH |
| Sunday, April 10, 2016 | About 30 harbor seals seen hauled out as we approached. Unfortunately, a private helicopter flew over the hauled out seals as we were approaching and scattered them. This helicopter has done so before, each time leaving just as we approached close enough to try and photograph or video the encounter. Over the past years, helicopters and airplanes have repeatedly harassed the seals and have been reported to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Agents. Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped. If you are there and see anything like this occuring, try to video and/or photograph the encounter and get the aircraft's ID numbers and contact NYS DEC POLICE, OR NOAA FISHERIES , OR Dr. Kopelman (president@CRESLI.org) and he will give you the contact informatioN FOR REPORTING HARASSMENT. Photos | RESEARCH |
| Monday, April 11, 2016 | 84 harbor seals. Photos and Video | RESEARCH |
| Sunday, April 17, 2016 | 44 harbor seals hauled-out Within a few minutes of arrival, we saw them chased off the sandbar by the close approach of a vesel. Over the next 45 minutes, vessels repeatedly cuased the seals to leave the sandbar. Boaters, please leave the seals alone! Photos and Video | RESEARCH |
| Friday, April 29, 2016 | 3 harbor seals swimming Photos | RESEARCH |
| Saturday, April 30, 2016 | 12 harbor seals hauled-out Photos | RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, May 01, 2016 | 4 harbor seals swimming Photos | RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK |
| Saturday, May 07, 2016 | 9 harbor seals swimming Photos | RESEARCH AND SEAL WALK |
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. PhotosBy 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 | 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 -
html version (for iPad and iPhone users)
| 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 photos(hauled out) | RESEARCH |
| SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 | 60 harbor seals photos(hauled out) | Seal Walk |
| Friday, January 17, 2014 | 30 harbor seals photos(hauled out) | Research |
| Sunday, January 26, 2014 | 8 harbor seals photos(hauled out) | 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 Photos(hauled out) Video | SEAL WALK |
| Sunday, February 09, 2014 | 60 harbor seals Photos(hauled out) | SEAL WALK |
| Monday, February 17, 2014 | 47 harbor seals Photos(hauled out) | 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
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
| 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) |
| 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.
| 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 |
| 01/05/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 27 harbor seals; 1 hooded seal (female)
|
| 01/20/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 34 harbor seals; 1 grey seal |
| 2/02/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 35 Harbor seals |
| 2/15/2008 | Montauk Point State Park | 2 Harbor seals |
| 02/17/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 80 Harbor seals |
| 02/23/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 37 Harbor seals; 1 grey seal |
| 3/02/08 | Cupsogue Beach County Park | 28 Harbor seals |
| 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 | |
| 4/25/2008 | Montauk Point State Park | 1 harbor seal |
| 5/2/2008 | Montauk Point State Park | 1 harbor seal |
| 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)
|
| 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) |
| Saturday March 3, 2007 | 12:30 PM | Cupsogue | 5 seals (4 harbor seals; 1 grey seal) |
Sunday Match 4, 2007
| 12:00 PM | Cupsogue | 7 seals (3 harbor seals; 3 grey seals; 1 harp seal) hauled out |
Monday March 26, 2007
| 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Outer islands of eastern sound | 365 seals 110 Grey seals
|
| Friday March 30, 2007 | 11:00 AM | Montauk | 6 seals (6 harbor seals hauled out including a female being strangled by debris) |
| 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) |
| Sunday May 13, 2007 | 11:00 AM | Montauk | 1 harbor seal |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| SUNDAY 3/12/2006 | 27 seals at main haulout site; 25 harbor seals and 2 grey seals |
| FRIDAY 03/24/2006 | 26 seals at main haulout site; 22 harbor seals and 4 grey seals |
| SATURDAY 03/25/2006
Cub Scout Pack 438 from Bohemia @ Cupsogue Beach | 69 seals: 65 harbor seals and 4 grey seals |
| 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 click here for photos |
| FRIDAY 05/05/2006 | 2 harbor and 1 grey seal hauled out |
| 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 | 5 harbor seals click here for pictures |
| 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 |
| 2003/4 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 |
| 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 |
| 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).