Author: nlysiak

Day 5 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

We took a trip to [foggy] Duck Island for a gray seal monitoring survey, and then Mary showed students how to complete abundance estimates and photo ID from photos of haul out sites.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the photo ID process, especially choosing names for seals based on distinguishing marks (photos above).  A large thunderstorm, with lots of lightning, in the afternoon gave way to a double rainbow during dinner.  Around 9:00, the skies lit up with heat lightning as well as fireworks from many towns on the New Hampshire and Maine coasts.

Seal photo by Alexa Hilmer

Day 4 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

Our whale watch was cancelled due to rough seas, so we watched some movies, took a hike to the tide pools and went swimming in the afternoon. Another beautiful sunset capped off the day.

Day 2 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

Mary (who helping me as a stellar TA) took me on a hike around the island, and the [14] students arrived at 2:00.  After the usual introductions and walking tour, we took them on an Isles cruise with historical commentary by Dr. Jim Coyle.  A beautiful sunset was beginning when we arrived back at Appledore.

Day 1 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

I traveled from Boston to Portsmouth today, and then took the 4:00 boat to Shoals.  2 [dead, frozen] seals rode with us, and one will be dissected in my class.  We had a faculty meeting and a course meeting, and then a lovely sunset.  Getting ready for students to arrive tomorrow afternoon!

{flight} 08 June 2014 Great South Channel

| nlysiak

Christin Khan, at NOAA Fisheries in Woods Hole, keeps a great blog where she posts photos and aerial survey reports.  Check out her fantastic photos from a recent flight in the Great South Channel (Gulf of Maine).  Besides right and sei whales, who are feeding on plankton, they also saw almost 100 basking sharks.  The all-you-can-eat lunch buffet is definitely open!

Photo credits: NOAA/NEFSC/Christin Khan.  Images collected under MMPA Research Permit Number 17355

Sei whale mom & calf.

Right whale calf, with mom below.

Sei whales feeding.

Right whale feeding.