Seals on the Sound

With pleasant temperatures and calm seas, the last seal cruise of the year on Long Island Sound seemed promising. Chris was on the water at Stamford Harbor by 2:00 and there was a 2:18 low tide. Most people in Stamford, Connecticut are unaware that these marine mammals are here at all. They arrive after most boats are out of the water and leave before most boats have returned. On this last cruise of the season (December 31, 2010), five seals were sighted on two separate haul-out spots within the harbor.

The seal pictured below is likely close to 300 pounds.

Chris left Stamford Harbor for a reef off the Darien, CT shoreline. In addition to numerous harbor seals, this reef has been host to a couple of the much larger grey seals.

These  grey seals can weigh as much as 900 pounds.

The photo below was taken during a November 2010 seal cruise on Long Island Sound; the seals are not far off-shore but most people will never see them.  One wonders if these coastal residents know of their off-shore neighbors.

It was a quiet day, just the seals, Chris and one other boat - a clam boat, the Catherine M. Wedmore.

The unmistakable shapes of six seals are evident on this reef off of the Greenwich shores, another four heads break the surface in front of the reef.

What a great way to end the year. In all, Chris counted between 20 and 30 seals. Happy New Year!