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Seal Observation Journal
Wednesday March 12, 2025 More good seal watching yesterday featuring the return of Big Red, the venerable stalwart Grey seal who has been gracing us with his/her presence occasionally for the past 10 years (see photo above left). We expect the seals should continue to cooperate as this week progresses, but there is east wind in the forecast, which makes seal observation less comfortable as there is no shelter from east wind. The seals have been staying on the rocks a long time during our recent observations, but if we venture out to Rome Point over the next 3 days our visits will likely be relatively brief. Late morning through mid-afternoon hikes should provide good seal observation opportunities, but seal seekers should dress to be prepared for a chilly sea breeze the rest of this week.
We are confident in our prediction that the best seal watching of the year is going to commence by the time the upcoming full moon starts to wane, all that is necessary is for the weather to cooperate. It would not surprise us to have a 100+ seal count on any upcoming day when the wind has a westerly component and the gusts are less than 25 mph. Interested seal seekers should be keeping a close eye on this website for seal observation updates. When the seal count at Rome Point reaches the 100 seal benchmark, the haul-out time seal show rivals almost any wild animal observation you are likely to see anywhere in North America. This show is coming soon to a rock pile near you, and as the recent run of windy days shows, good days shouldn't be taken for granted.
We took a look at our past
seal counts back in April 2024, as we were curious
when we had last seen over 150 seals on the rocks at
Rome Point. It turns out that March 27, 2021 was the
last seal count that exceeded the 150 seal
benchmark, and we had to go back to spring 2018 to
see multiple consecutive counts of greater than 150
seals. We would assert that there are
not as many harbor seals making their winter home in
Narragansett Bay as there were 10 years ago, for reasons
that we continue to ponder as our seal counts gradually
become slightly lower each season.
The links below connect to short
seal videos we posted on YouTube for your seal watching
amusement. Seal Pup Follies was recorded in Maine
in June 2012 and Linebelly Rising is a short clip
showing the former Rome Point kingpin climbing to the
top of his favorite pointy rock.
Video Links:
Tail Biting Jumps March 2020
Seal
Action March 2013
Linebelly
Rising
Big Seal Day 2011
Seal
Pup Follies
Rome Point Seals 2011