Keeping Tally

Snow and I are battling it out. And since it just won’t quit I have decided neither will I. I’ll have to be just as determined-especially when it comes to checking on the Harbor seals.

The other morning I stared at the tally counter sitting on my desk- the number still “frozen” at 0030, that’s 16 seals on West haulout (clumps of rocks) and 14 on East haulout. It had been a couple weeks since I visited Hungry Point last.

In the past when the weather permitted, I would often see them twice a week-ok, maybe three times- and now I downright miss them!

On Monday and Tuesday I did drive east (gosh, will the bike path ever emerge?).

I laugh, the drifts are so high I just stepped over the picket fence gate leading to my path. I can still walk gingerly on top of the icy crust, and THen fall through up to my waist (just once this time!).

I’m glad I went. I photographed (upper right rock) one “entangled” seal with a deeply embedded “necklace” –perhaps a packing band or monofilament. After documenting I send information along to The Mystic Aquarium. It’s all about keeping watch for the Northeast Region Stranding Network.

Later in the week it was business as usual with those seals-striking poses and looking like ice sculptures, “pet rocks”-even an inflatable beach raft…

It’s good we can count on each other.