Watching Wildlife on Cape Cod
Seals sun themselves on Monomoy.
Seals!
In early winter, a
jetty seems to magically appear around the shoals of Chatham. It looks as
if thousands of brown boulders dot the high tide line from the north beach
break-through to south beach and Monomoy. Look again, though. These "rocks" are
alive; our harbor seals have come home.
When fall settles in, these sleek marine mammals begin their trek from the Main coast and points further north where they breed. They travel into Cape waters, using designated areas from generations past as "haul-out" sites, land bases where seals can rest and find refuge during the non-breeding season. Jeremy Point in Wellfleet, Race Point in Provincetown and Momonoy Shoals in Chatham are homes to large numbers of harbor seals in winter.
Harbor Seals and Gray Seals are among the 33 species of pinnipeds ("fin-footed" animals). Harbor seals are the most common visitors here, often seen around harbor entrances where they sun themselves on rocks and sandbars. In the water, they float upright, nose pointed up, which is called "bottling." Among the smallest of the species, adults can grow to five feet; however most are within three to four feet. Their coloration ranges from brown to gray to almost white. Most are spotted.
The Grey Seal is a rare visitor. Normally, this large seal breeds in Canada. However, Nantucket and Chatham have recorded Grey seals, making it the southernmost breeding ground on earth for this incredible mammal. During the winter of 1989-90, Grey seals gave birth to nine pups on the Monomoy shoals. Regrettably, three pups washed away in a storm; however, the six survivors may grace our shores for years to come. Grey seals are huge. Adults males may reach a length of ten feet and weigh over 600 pounds.
The Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary schedules Seal Watch Cruises to Monomoy Island. For more information call (508) 349-2615.
Canada geese are year round residents on the Cape.
Birds!
The Cape's
"outstretched arm" makes it the first landing point on the north-south Atlantic
flyway and offers some of the finest birding on the Eastern Coast. Every
season, feathered residents reintroduce themselves and visitors just passing
through arrive as if on cue. And, every once in awhile, a spotted redshank or
blacktailed godwit turns up on the wrong side of the Atlantic and gives us an
awesome treat. While a trip to any marsh or shore is certain to prove
fascinating and fruitful to birders, the Cape has a variety of special and
extensive birding sites well worth investigating.
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
This 1,000-acre preserve,
run by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, is one of New England's most active
sanctuaries. Birding couldn't get much better among acres of pine, moors,
freshwater ponds, tidal creeks and salt marshes. The Sanctuary is off Route 6
in South Wellfleet.For a list of daily programs including bird hikes, call
(508) 349-2615.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area
This
2700-acre Wildlife Refuge consists of North and South Monomoy Islands, classic
barrier islands, and a portion of Morris Island. The Refuge stretches
approximately ten miles southward into Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
With surf-battered dunes, fresh and salt-water marshes, mud flats seaside
thickets and freshwater ponds, the islands are havens for wildlife observation.
The habitat is home to a variety of native bird species and a nesting place for
numerous migratory species. Nesting gulls, terns, herons and waterfowl, along
with migrant shorebirds, ducks, hawks and shorebirds. More than 285 species of
birds have been sighted here, including awesome Peregrine Falcon and the
endangered piping plover and roseate tern. Fall and winter brings thousands of
eiders, scoter, red-breasted mergansersk and brant congregate.
The Monomoy Islands are only accessible by boat. Guided tours are available from: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (508) 896-3867) and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (508) 385-2615). Refuge headquarters are on Morris Island, which is accessible by car and foot. To reach it, take Route 28 east through Chatham to Chatham Light. Take the first left after the lighthouse, then the first right. Follow Morris Island road to sign for the refuge on left. (508) 945-0594.
Other Lower Cape Spots For Birding Adventures
- Nickerson State Park, Route 6A, Brewster
- West Harwich Conservation Area, reached by Bell's Neck Road off Route 28.
- Cape Cod National Seashore, Salt Pond Visitor Center, Route 6, Eastham.
- Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster. Offers several trails along conservation lands.
- Fort Hill, Off Route 6, Eastham
- Skaket Beach, Skaket Beach Road, Orleans. (Great place to view brants, gulls, duck eiders and Canada geese.)
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