My View of Life on the Dock
I often see this group playing volleyball together at Good Harbor Beach when out walking my sweet dog Rosie. Yesterday, more and more friends joined as the sun was setting and it looked like tons of fun. Thanks guys for not minding my taking snapshots!
Good Harbor Beach
The sunrise in the lifting fog at Good Harbor Beach this morning looked at times more like a moonrise.
A lone Snowy Egret was eating and fluffing its feathers and a pair of Whimbrels (at least I think they were Whimbrels) were fishing and bathing along the tide pool edges.
Good Harbor Beach Gloucester
Sunday at the Beach and Monday at the Beach
The beautiful juvenile Harbor Seal was found on a foggy morning in midsummer. The seal was beached at the high tide line and its breathing was heavy and labored. It had no interest in returning to the water and needed only to remain at rest.
For the next six hours the seal struggled to survive the world of curious humans.
Learn what to do if you find a seal on the beach.
Written, produced, edited, cinematography, and narration by Kim Smith.
The Good Harbor Beach Seal PSA was created because of the lack of understanding on the part of my fellow beachgoers on how to mangae a seal encounter. Please help get the word out and please forward the link to friends and neighbors in other communities, whether or not the community is located by the sea. It was the folks from out of town that did not understand that the seal needed simply to be left alone. Thank you!
Although the Good Harbor Seal was not injured, help was needed with the gathering crowd. I called our local police, who in turn sent Lieutenant Roger Thurlow from the Environmental Police. Has anyone had experience with a marine stranding, and if so, is the following the best number to call: Northeast Region Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline ~ 866-755-6622? I will post your hotline recommendations here.
Technical note–The video was filmed without a tripod because I was afraid the tripod would look like a gun and didn’t want to further stress the seal. After reading more about Harbor Seals, I learned that their big brown eyes are particularly adapted to sight in murky water (i.e. harbor waters), but that their eyesight is not that good on land. In retrospect, I don’t think that the seal would have associated the tripod with a weapon. Also, I filmed at a distance much further away than my camera’s capabilities, which caused much vignetting around the edges of many of the clips. I didn’t want to stand close to the seal and be the filmmaker-who-becomes-part-of-the-problem, and not the solution.
Breaking News: Good Harbor Beach Seal Survives
This morning I went for an early morning walk at Good Harbor and discovered this beautiful baby Harbor Seal stranded at the high water mark. Over the next six hours it struggled to survive the world of curious humans. Fortunately, all ended well and the seal was returned to the sea. I’ll post a PSA video later in the week because a great many of the beach goers today seemed completely clueless to the fact that stranded baby seals must be left alone. I had to call the environmental police (thank you Lieutenant Roger Thurlow) to prevent this one man from actually touching the seal, despite the fact that the seal’s breathing was obviously very labored and it was terrified. Later in the morning a lifeguard appeared and kept the crowd under control. I asked for her name but the lifeguards have been instructed not to speak to the media. I hope the lifeguard sees this post because I would like to thank her–she did an absolutely awesome job keeping people from getting too close to the seal–and it wasn’t easy.
Good Harbor Beach Stranded Harbor Seal
A special Day for this couple they were getting married on the Footbridge later that day.
Released to grow up and end up at the Lobster Pound someday.
I believe they were coaxed with some food.
Then photo taken in circa 1966, notice the second footbridge on the right, now is gone
Cooling My Heels
Glorious Good Harbor Beach in the cool silky water. So refreshing on these sweltering days.
Photo © Kathy Chapman 2013
Hi Joey & GMG:
Here are my submissions for the 2013 Manchester By The Sea 4th of July Parade.
Jay Smiledge
Cape Ann Imagery
The first photo is around the 1900’s, the second old photo is from 1889. The photos appear to have been taken from what is now Bass Rock Golf Course.
Note that at that time there was two bridges crossing the creek, only one is visible in each photograph. The Sherman Cottage had open decks all around.
![24_bass_rocks_rd_1889_b2[1]](https://goodmorninggloucester.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/24_bass_rocks_rd_1889_b21.jpg "24_bass_rocks_rd_1889_b2[1]")
Amazing how much can happen in just two months.
The Sherman house on the point at Good Harbor Beach.
Check out this video of Allen Estes’ new song, “We All Fall Down”, which premieres on his show Local Music Seen with Allen Estes tomorrow (WED) at 6:30pm on Cape Ann TV Channel 12. Allen had been working on this song before the marathon bombing, which gave the song a more profound meaning closer to what we’re all feeling right now. If this song doesn’t move you, nothing will.
In this special show, Allen is his own guest and sings four new songs and one older one from his Nashville writing days. He ends with one of my new favorites, “Swimming” or “The Good Harbor Beach Song” — a perfect way to get into the Cape Ann Summer spirit!
More Allen Estes videos here (including Swimming)
Good Harbor Beach was ready for a perfect day to Tan UP…….
Jessica, the first thing she wanted on her way home from college was a walk on Good Harbor Beach, using the new footbridge. Welcome Home and enjoy the summer.
Cement added, replaced a few more boards, tightening of bolts, straightening of signs, and GMG signature.
DPW Phil, job well done and timely……
Good Morning Gloucester 