CRESLI 2008 summer offshore whale and pealgic bird trips

[Dr. Artie Kopelman]

Dear offshore whale and pelagic bird enthusiast,

 

Our trips have been 100% successful and we have encountered thousands of pelagic birds over the years ( go to http://www.cresli.org/cresli/aug_07_GSC.html to see our list from last year’s shortened trip, including 5,816 Great Shearwater ; 780 Sooty Shearwater; 36 Manx Shearwater; 5Manx/Audubon's Shearwater; 630  Wilson's Storm-Petrel); over 500 humpback in the 7 trips thus far and have photo-identified over 140 different individuals (~1/3 of the known Gulf of Maine stock, in just 7 trips!).  We’ve also encountered fin, minke, sei, and right whales;  common, white-sided, dolphins, pilot whales

 

We are planning two trips to the Great South Chanel in 2008, one in July and one in August.  The July trip will be  34 hours long; the August trip, our typical 51 hour trip. 

(1)     Our July trip will leave at 8:00 PM on July 20, 2008, and head to the Great South Channel (GSC).  We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 15 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC.  After sunset, we’ll head back to Montauk and should return by 6:00 AM on July 22, 2008. 

 

(2)    Our August trip will leave at 7:00 PM on August 10, 2008 and head to Martha’s Vineyard (MV) to pick up (and drop off) passengers.  We expect to arrive at Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard at approximately 12:30 AM on 8/11; we leave MV at 1:00 AM and proceed to the GSC.  We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 24 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC.  The following morning, we will have the option of either remaining on the whale grounds, or returning early to Martha’s Vineyard for land-based birding, hiking, or other activities.  The vessel will ultimately depart Martha’s Vineyard at 4:30 PM on 8/12 and return to Montauk at 10:30 PM on 8/12/08.

 

We at CRESLI hope that you will join us on our trips.  Remember that members do get discounted fares.  Reservations can be made at  http://www.cresli.org/cresli/reservations/offshore_res.html

 

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D.
President
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
pres...@cresli.org
www.cresli.org
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