Sunbathing in March

The local seal population likes to sun themselves on the rocks in the Merrimack River at low tide. You can see them from the beach along the river at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. They are fairly regular visitors to this set of rocks and it makes for a good photo opportunity.

Two seals take advantage as the tide begins to expose the rocks.

As more of the rock ledge shows, it can get really crowded.

Sometimes you can see the seals playing.

February Coast Guard Training on the Merrimack River

I was near “Butlers Toothpick” at the Salisbury Beach State Reservation on February 25, 2016

when I spotted a Coast Guard cutter and helicopter arrived for a training exercise. I took the opportunity to photograph this event. The winds were strong that day and I was duly impressed with how the helicopter pilot hovered in place for 5 to 10 minutes at a time despite the winds so the crew could lower the rescue basket down to the cutter.

The helicopter kicked up a lot spray off the Merrimack River creating some rather dramatic photos. It created fog like conditions at moments which obscured the cutter.

 The helicopter is lowering the rescue basket down to the cutter.

Dramatic photo of the cold water sprat being kicked up by the helicopter.

February Storm Damage

I had originally ended this blog with 100^th entry covering the completion of the repairs to the North Jetty. I thought I would update the blog and how the jetty has weathered its first winter after repairs. Early February 2016 brought a Nor’easter coastal storm combined with astronomical high tides. The storm caused some visible damage to the spur jetty as seen in the photos below. Several stones near the top were knocked out of position.

There is a visible gap were some of the stones were knocked out.