CRESLI 2024-2025 Seal Walks and Cruises

Sunday, November 24, 2024 

Just after sunrise on a cold and blustery morning (with brisk NW wind at 15 knots), our first seal walk of this 2025 season was successful! We found ~ 30 Atlantic harbor seals hauled-out 600 yards away (on their tertiary haul-out site). Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

During the 11/27/2024 seal monitoring session ~37 Atlantic harbor seals were hauled-out on the tertiary haul-out area. Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Another cold day with brisk winds out of the NNE. 5-10Atlantic harbor seals began hauling-out on the tertiary haul-out area about 10 AM. They were periodically disturbed by vessel activity of clammers 1/2 mile ESE of the seals. 

Our seal walk group arrived near the viewing area just after 11 and from the road could see 12 harbor seals hauled. However, we were not the only people there. By the time we got to our closer vantage point (away from the shoreline) the seals had been already flushed from the sand bar.  Over the next 30 minutes, we watched as some of them swam westerward towards the inlet.

The seals were not disturbed by our group.

• We at CRESLI have 20 years of experience leading hundreds of seal walks at Cupsogue Beach. We are very cognizant of the potential for distrurbance and ALWAYS act in ways that will not disturb seals, even with large groups of people.  

We ask that all persons wishing to view seals, do so first on guided tours like ours. Learn from us about how to view seals without scaring them.

During this CRESLI seal walk patience paid off. While no seals were hauled-out, we waited and began to see Alantic harbor seals swimming. Just after absolute low-tide about 12 harbor seals were seen. Many were following a kayak, most likely making sure it wasn't a threat. We were able to capture photos of about 4-5 seals. Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a slideshow

Approximately 73 harbor seals were hauled-out  on the quarternary region (~640 yards N). Counts were taken from photos run through ImageJ and and are approximate.
At some point, then entire haulout flushed into the water and a few smam close enough to photgraph and ID, including a seal we've seen ever time  thi season. Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a slideshow

We spent time this hazy, foggy, and sometimes rainy morning looking at seals hauled-out on their distant quarternary haul-out area to the north and east. We observed from several spots and eventually were able to get about 600 yards away. We watched some swim and porpoise and otherwise rest. We also watched one swimming to the haulout area. That seal was close enough to get a photo of the right side of it's head.  It was "Horseshoe" back for his 20th consecutive year!!! 

Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a slideshow

The 12/29/24 seal walk was successful, but again the seals were incredibly far off (over 650 yards) on the quaternary haul-out area. It was a gray day which made photography difficult. We counted 40-45 using a telescope and then via video and photographs.  Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a slideshow

Again the seals were incredibly far off (650 yards away) on the quaternary haul-out area. The day was sunnier than the past few days and made photography less problematic. Between 35 and 60 seals could be counted using sharpened and cropped images. We are hoping that the seals will return to a closer haul-out region. Photos were taken using telephoto lenses (1200mm) and are cropped. No seals were disturbed.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a video

We had a seal walk for the the students of Saxton Middle School (Patchogue-Medford School District) organized by Cathy Reid, Library-Media Specialist. One female Atlantic harbor seal was comfortably resting on a rock near shore. We were quiet and stayed hidden and got wonderful views of this female harbor seal. We've not seen seals use these rocks in many years.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Several Atlantic harbor seals were seen swimming in Moriches Bay in a monitoring session several hours prior to our seal walk. During the walk, we found ~45 hauled-out Atlantic harbor seals hauled out on the distant quaternary region.

Photos are available to view and purchase to help support our work

Here's a slideshow