Seal Spotted Swimming In East River

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Add a harbor seal to the list of wildlife making an appearance in and around the Upper East Side this winter.

Mary Beth Kooper spotted the seal in the East River around 10 a.m. Monday off the south coast of Randall's Island — also a common destination for birdwatchers. The seal appeared to be fishing, said Kooper, who watched the seal for about 15 minutes from a rocky outcropping on the island's southeastern corner.

Such a sighting is far from uncommon, said Gabriel Willow, a naturalist with New York City Audubon who has led seal-spotting tours around New York City's waterways.

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— Mary Beth Kooper (@imarybethnyc) January 11, 2021

"Seals are all around New York City," Willow said. "They’re in the East River, Hudson River, Jamaica Bay. You can see them pretty much anywhere in the city if you’re by one of the rivers."

Harbor seals are by far the most common in the New York City area, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. They swim here in the early winter from Canada and northern New England to feast on fish, shellfish and crustaceans.

Gray seals and adorable, fuzzy harp seals also sometimes make their way to the five boroughs.

The East River is a less common seal-sighting spot than some less-busy waterways, Willow said. For example, Swinburne and Hoffman islands off the eastern coast of Staten Island are preferred hangouts for seals, who favor their rocky shores.

Cooped-up New Yorkers have developed a new appreciation for the city's wildlife offerings in recent months. Starting last month, Upper East Siders lavished attention on two rare birds spotted in a park and on Randall's Island, and owls perched in Central and Riverside parks have also attracted visitors.

To Willow, every city seal sighting is a sign of success: the animals were scarcely seen here for decades due to pollution, and only began making their way back following the 1972 Clean Water Act.

"They're wonderful creatures," he said.

More Upper East Side animal coverage: UES Birders All Atwitter As 2 Rare Birds Settle In Neighborhood