Hamptons Verified

Hamptons Verified

Hamptons Wildlife

Whales, seals, birds, fish and more — responsibly.

From Kemp's Ridley sea turtles cold-stunned on fall beaches to Piping Plover chicks behind the roped-off dunes — every species is sourced from CRESLI, NOAA, USFWS, NY DEC, Cornell Lab eBird, or Audubon. Serious birder? Jump to Birding or see the Atlantic Flyway hotspots.

Where to see wildlife

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Birding

The East End is one of the best birding destinations on the Atlantic flyway. Snowy Owl irruptions in winter, Piping Plover in summer, the fall raptor migration, and 7 species you can reliably see from East End trails and beaches.

Cornell Lab eBird hotspots

Join a guided bird walk →South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo)Audubon & nature groups →Long Island chapters and field trip leadersTrails with bird hotspots →Mashomack, Hither Hills, Wertheim, Quogue

Birding data from Cornell Lab eBird, Audubon NY, and the South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo) field reports.

What can I see right now?

18 species active in July. Peak-month species are marked ★.

Humpback WhalePeak AugustFin WhalePeak JulyMinke WhalePeak JuneKemp's Ridley Sea TurtlePeak AugustLoggerhead Sea TurtlePeak AugustShortfin Mako SharkPeak JulyBlue SharkPeak AugustCommon Thresher SharkPeak JulyStriped BassPeak OctoberFluke (Summer Flounder)Peak JulyBluefishPeak JuneOspreyPeak JuneBald EaglePeak FebruaryPiping PloverPeak JuneSummer Herons & EgretsPeak JulyWhite-tailed DeerPeak NovemberRed FoxPeak AprilWild TurkeyPeak April

Year-round viewing calendar

When you'll see them
Peak
Present
Occasional
Not around
SpeciesWinter (Jan–Mar)Spring (Apr–Jun)Summer (Jul–Sep)Fall (Oct–Dec)Photo
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulnowAugSepOctNovDec
🐋 Marine Mammals · 3 species
Minke Whale
Fin Whale
Humpback Whale
🦭 Seals · 2 species
Harbor Seal
Gray Seal
🐢 Sea Turtles · 2 species
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
🦈 Sharks · 3 species
Shortfin Mako Shark
Common Thresher Shark
Blue Shark
🐟 Game Fish · 4 species
Bluefish
Fluke (Summer Flounder)
Striped Bass
False Albacore
🦅 Raptors · 3 species
Snowy Owl
Bald Eagle
Osprey
🐦 Shorebirds · 2 species
Migratory Songbirds (spring/fall)
Piping Plover
🦆 Waterfowl & Wading Birds · 2 species
Winter Waterfowl
Summer Herons & Egrets
🦌 Land Mammals · 3 species
Red Fox
Wild Turkey
White-tailed Deer
Filter by individual species (24 total)
Birds · 3 species
Bald EagleOspreySnowy Owl
Shorebirds · 2 species
Migratory Songbirds (spring/fall)Piping Plover
Waterfowl · 2 species
Summer Herons & EgretsWinter Waterfowl
Sharks · 3 species
Blue SharkCommon Thresher SharkShortfin Mako Shark
Game Fish · 4 species
BluefishFalse AlbacoreFluke (Summer Flounder)Striped Bass
Marine Mammals · 3 species
Fin WhaleHumpback WhaleMinke Whale
Seals · 2 species
Gray SealHarbor Seal
Sea Turtles · 2 species
Kemp's Ridley Sea TurtleLoggerhead Sea Turtle
Land Mammals · 3 species
Red FoxWhite-tailed DeerWild Turkey

Browse all species

Birds live in the Birding section above; everything else is here. Tap any card for when, where, and how to see it.

Tick & Lyme Disease warning: Deer ticks are active April-October across the Hamptons. Wear long pants, use permethrin-treated clothing, and do a full tick check after any hike or walk through bird habitat.

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