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Beached pilot whale and Mola lanceolatus



Hello Norm et al.:  Minutes before discovering the beached pilot whale 
near Hatteras Island Pier with Norm on Saturday, I was birding near Cape 
Point and discovered a live but stranded sharptail mola (Mola 
lanceolatus), a rare and large relative of puffers and triggerfish. It 
was beautiful but horribly heavy, weighing 300 - 400 lbs (small 
considering the species can weigh more than 3000 lbs). After struggling 
for 30 minutes or so, I was able to get it back into the water. It too 
likely died, but the effort was worth the slim chance of its survival in 
my mind. The birding was also exceptional, though I never did see the 
elusive dovekie! The two short-eared owls chasing each other and a 
harrier at Pea Island (at 3pm) was a highlight, as was the red wolf 
sighting at Alligator River NWR.

I have attached low quality images of the pilot whale (short finned, 
Norm?) and the sharptail mola. If you would like high quality images, 
let me know, I can email those to you.

Nate Bacheler
   

.........................................
Nathan M. Bacheler
Marine Sciences Fellow
Center for Marine Sciences and Technology
North Carolina State University
Morehead City, NC  28557  USA
(252)222-6329
nmbachel@unity.ncsu.edu
.........................................

[Note from carolinabirds-owner@duke.edu: Image attachments deleted - 
attachments are not allowed on Carolinabirds. E-mail Nate if you'd like to 
see them.]