iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our 2026 Trip to Sable Island fundraising raffle! 1st prize (2 seats on trip): Georgina Stanhope 2nd prize (1 seat on trip): Emily MacCulloch 3rd prize (1 seat on trip): Kandace Gall And many thanks to everyone who supported our work by purchasing tickets!

000

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets to our fundraising raffle! Join us in person at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, or via live stream on Facebook to find out who won!! - and GOOD LUCK!! www.facebook.com/share/1EnN1c...

facebook.com

000

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Win a Trip to Sable Island National Park Reserve by helicopter with Kattuk Expeditions! Ticket Sales end August 20th and the draw takes place August 23th, 2026. #raffle #bucketlist #novascotia #explorens #halifaxnoise #discoverhalifax rafflebox.ca/raffle/sable...

rafflebox.ca

Our 2026 Sable Island Institute Fundraising Raffle

020

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Is visiting #SableIsland on your #bucketlist? If you live in #NovaScotia, you could #win a Trip to #sableislandnpr by #helicopter with #KattukExpeditions by supporting our #fundraising #raffle! There are three chances to win: 1st Prize: Day Trip for TWO 2nd & 3rd Prizes: Day Trip for one ..🧵1/3

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Standing in Starpool The yearling female (scruffy because she is still shedding her winter coat, & shown playing around the pool in the previous post) took a break to stand in the shallow water & have a drink, cooling her heels. This seasonal pond, known as Starpool,… 🧵 1/3

100

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

A Sable Island Yearling #NorthAtlantic #wildhorsesofSable #wildhorses #shedding #yearling As few days ago, while her family band was drinking & grazing nearby, a scruffy female yearling was trotting, galloping & playing around a shallow pool of freshwater. Her new summer coat is showing … 🧵1/2

140

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Irises & Pond Lilies, Sable Island 🌎🌿#SableIsland #NorthAtlantic At Iris Pond a few days ago (under an overcast sky, with fog). Although not as abundant here as it once was, Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolour) is growing in dense stands at the edges and in shallow areas of the pond, … 🧵1/3

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Blue Flag Iris 🌎🌿 #NorthAtlantic #wildflowers #floraofnovascotia An iris flower, with its 30cm tall stem, seems to hover high above surrounding vegetation. Among the many flowers in full bloom now on #SableIsland, one of the largest & most colourful is the #BlueFlagIris (Iris versicolour)…🧵1/2

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Balloons on Sable Island 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #parkscanada Foil balloons, are shiny, reflective, & vibrantly colourful. They are made from a thin, durable plastic film that is metallized with an aluminum coating. Unlike traditional latex balloons, they are non-porous & can hold helium for weeks…. 🧵1/3

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Sable Island Horses, Glossy & Shaggy 🌎🌿 #wildhorses #wildhorsesofSable A family band, adults & young, showing various stages of shedding depending on age. The black band stallion is almost fully shed. Some old hair clings to his face & lower legs, but he has his glossy summer coat….(🧵1/4)

150

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Sable Seals in the Surf #NorthAtlantic #SableIslandwx #nswx Yesterday was sunny, with a SW breeze & max temp 17.3°C – the warmest day so far this year. Along south beach, where Grey Seals were in the water, the younger seals were more curious than their elders & approached for a look … 🧵1/2

130

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

A View from Bald Dune From the top of a bald dune, looking southeast over a wide field of marram grass and towards the south shoreline. The yellow arrow points to the only two horses in sight at this time, providing a sense of scale. They are grazing in an area of grass enriched with beach pea….🧵1/2

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Indigo Blue 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #SableIslandwx #nswx On June 21, Summer Solstice, an Indigo Bunting turned up near the Sable Island Station, a burst of blue to celebrate the day with the longest period of daylight in our Northern Hemisphere. It was a warm & clear day with a max temp of 15°C … 🧵(1/2)

150

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Morning Colours, Sable Island #NorthAtlantic #Sableislandwx #nswx At 5:15 am several days ago, the base of a rainbow seemed to be a column of colours near the building that once served as the office & operations centre for the weather and research programs of the #MeteorologicalServiceofCanada…🧵1/3

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Sunset Colours Over the Station Also 8:5 pm, yesterday, a view in the opposite direction, towards the SE, with clouds beyond the #SableIsland Station catching the colours of the sun setting in the NW. The bright pink clouds were a fleeting sight & soon lost the light. Photo Zoe Lucas #SableIslandnpr

010

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Evening Colours, Sable Island Yesterday evening, 8:55 pm, a view from the high north beach dune just east of the Sable Island Station. The crescent moon was a small bright spot in a sunset sky of glowing, energetic clouds. Photo Zoe Lucas #parkscanada #SableIslandnpr #sableislandnationalparkreserve

010

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

A Mouthful of Marram #SableIslandwx #nswx Today’s weather was mild with max temp 13.6C, overcast with periods of fog, & a relatively light wind SE 10-14kts most of the day. This chestnut stallion is one of 2 males that hang about together, & both were grazing marram grass on a south beach dune….⅓🧵

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Pipe Racks in the Waves Along south beach near the western end of the island, there are about 30 steel columns (pipes) standing in the surf & swash zone. They are the remains of the pipe racks which were part of the former staging area for Mobil Oil’s west spit operation in the early 1970s…. 🧵1/4

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Join us for our 14th Sable Island Update Public Meeting! At the O'Reagan Hall in the Halifax Central Library Monday, June 22nd at 7:00 pm *FREE admission* Featuring Jordan Eamer and Rose Morrison. #liveevent #halifax #halifaxevents #halifaxlibrary #STEM #STEAM #ParksCanada #CPAWS #EAC

130

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Harbour Seal Pair on North Beach 🌎🌿🦑 #NorthAtlantic #parkscanada The mother has not yet shed her old, yellowed coat, but she will begin the annual moult during the next few weeks. When she has her new coat, she will look more like the pup with bright, clear grey and silvery colours…. (🧵1/2)

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Roaming Seals, Again 🚢 🌎 #AtlanticOcean #parkscanada #SableIslandnpr #sableislandnationalparkreserve Yesterday afternoon, while doing a beach survey on south beach and passing the remains of the yacht Merrimac, there was a young Grey Seal watching. … 🧵1/3

131

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A Sable Island Earth Anchor 🚢 🇨🇦 #AtlanticOcean #sableislandnpr During the past few decades, as the wind blows away the sand at the site of an old communications tower or mast (long ago decommissioned), a small field of debris has appeared: deadeyes, scraps of guy lines, lengths of chain,… 🧵1/3

132

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Don't miss our 14th Sable Island Update Public Meeting! At the O'Reagan Hall in the Halifax Central Library Monday, June 22nd at 7:00 pm *FREE admission* Featuring Jordan Eamer and Rose Morrison. More info on our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/share/18YE1B...

031

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Harbour Seal Mother and Pup 🌎🦑 #NorthAtlantic #Harbourseals #parkscanada A few days ago, a Harbour Seal & her very young pup were swimming in the shallows along north beach. The Harbour pups can swim within a few hours of birth & are able to follow … (🧵1/3)

121

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Iris Pond, Sable Island 🌎🌿 #parkscanada #SableIslandnpr #SableIslandwx #nswx #spring Yesterday’s weather was sunny & spring-like with a mostly S wind & a max temp13.7°C. This freshwater pond was named for the Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolour) that was once abundant here…. (🧵1/3)

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Spring Juniper 🌎🌿 #NorthAtlantic #spring #juniper #botany #plantecology #biodiversity Inland on Sable Island, sheltered by the beach dunes, some areas of more stable landscape are covered with the thick growth of shrub & heath communities. 🧵1/4…

130

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Another Roaming Grey Seal 🌎 On Sable Island, all along the north and south beaches, there are complicated seal tracks in the sand of hollows and blowouts, and steep, high slopes. The tracks – circling, zigzagging, looping – show the movements of young seals, pups and juveniles.…(🧵1/2)

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Socializing Sable Island Stallions 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #spring #wildhorses #wildhorsesofSable Five males were grazing, drinking and socializing near one of the freshwater ponds, when two dashed off to chase each other around the water. Although many are still lean after the winter,… (🧵1/2)

130

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

North Beach Surf 🌎 #northatlantic #sableislandwx #nswx Sable Island’s weather today was mostly sunny, with max temp 11.3°C, & a relatively light S wind of 8-10kts. This is a view from a high dune along north beach, looking towards the east, with about 150 Grey Seals hauled out …1/2 🧵

100

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Sable’s Spring Landscape 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #spring #wildhorses #wildhorsesofSable It’s been a breezy, chilly spring on the island. Three male horses, a bachelor group, after walking into the wind across the wide, bare, & partly flooded south beach sand flat, headed up onto a low south beach dune🧵1/3…

131

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

This Wednesday, June 3rd (7pm) at the Halifax Central Library as part of #OceanWeekCanada Mocean Dance presents "Sea Unseen", an immersive dance performance with plastics collected on the shores of Sable Island (free admission). for more info and to register: moceandance.com/event/sea-un...

moceandance.com

Sea Unseen | Mocean Dance

An immersive dance performance with plastics collected on the shores of Sable IslandWednesday, June 3rd | 7pmPaul O'Regan Hall, Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden RdFREE ADMISSION - EVENT REG...

000

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

This Morning, from Sable Island Although the wind is picking up now, at 6:00am, in thick, dripping fog, the air was almost still with only a 7 kt breath of an easterly breeze. A wandering juvenile Grey Seal was on top of the high north beach dune overlooking the Sable Island Station. Photo Zoe Lucas

020

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Bald Dune Advancing 🌎 #SableIslandwx #nswx #NorthAtlantic Today Sable Island was breezy & chilly with max temp 10.2°C & a NW wind gusting to 21 kts, but sunny all day. Over the years, with winds constantly moving sand, several of the island’s bald dunes have slowly migrated southwards… 🧵1/2

120

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Two Furry Yearlings 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #spring #yearlings #wildhorses #wildhorsesofSable With the warming temperatures of spring, the Sable Island horses no longer need their woolly winter coats. The youngest horses have the thickest coats to keep their small bodies warm during the cold months,… 🧵1/3

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Two Bees & an Ant 🌎 #biodiversity The common #dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is not common on #SableIsland. It is not native, & is mostly found in areas where there was, or is now, human infrastructure (buildings, walkways, etc). Dandelion is one of the first plants to flower in the spring …1/3 🧵

131

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This Evening’s Sunset. A view from a high north beach dune. It was a breezy day on #SableIsland with SW winds gusting to 20kts, a max temp of 11.5°C, & fog coming & going (enough to delay a flight until tomorrow). Photo Zoe Lucas. #sunset #SableIslandwx #nswx #parkscanada #SableIslandnpr

020

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

More from the West Spit Watering Area 🌎🌿 The young Grey Seal who had been snoozing near the two reclining horses later moved over to one of the waterholes to enjoy the damp sand & cooling water. A stallion was drinking at a hole nearby & his sudden distraction (caused by some males galloping...🧵1/3

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Horses & a Seal at the Waterhole 🌎🌿 #SableIslandwx #nswx Yesterday felt like spring! With max temp12.9°C & peak wind of 17 kts NW, it was a lovely day at the waterhole on West Spit. It is a bare sandy area surrounded by fields of marram grass & beach pea. Because of its low elevation the…(🧵1/3)

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Good Morning from Sable Island. Sunrise along the north beach with a rising tide. Mostly clear sky, 8°C. Compared with the past few days, the wind is lighter, NW 16kts & forecast to diminish all day. Photo Zoe Lucas. #sunrise #SableIslandwx #nswx #NorthAtlantic #parkscanada #SableIslandnpr

021

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

A Rug on the Beach 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #Beachmonitoring Found during a recent #beachsurvey, a plastic rug #washedashore on the north beach. It is 2x1.5m in size & weighs 1.6kg. By weight this is equal to 153 plastic water bottles. The rug is still in good condition except for a small torn area.1/4🧵...

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Freshwater & Salt. After high winds, rain, & overcast all morning, the sky cleared this afternoon with the sun glittering on Pinetree Pond East (upper photo), & bright on the south beach floodwater (lower photo). These two photos were taken from the same position on the top of a dune, 1/4🧵…

141

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

#Seafoam on South Beach (⅓🧵) 🌎🌿 🦑 Last night was very stormy with heavy rain & winds gusting to 47 kts. Waves washed over the berm & flooded south beach. The surf threw billows of foam ashore, & by this afternoon most of it had turned to grungy brown & grey froth along the edge of the floodwater.…

100

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Sable Island Pals at Pinetree Pond 🌎🌿🪶 A few days ago, in the early morning fog, two males who are often seen together grazing, socializing & resting, were at Pinetree Pond West (pond named for the Scots Pine that once lived nearby). These males are not presently members of a family band. 1/3🧵…

1141

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

The Spring Greening Landscape 🌎🌿 Even in the fog, the new growth of beach pea – stems and leaves – are brightening the dunes. In June the pea's flowers bloom in rich tones of purple, blue and pink, but now, in the soggy air, the leaves of the young plants almost glow. (🧵1/2) …

110

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

A Foggy Day and a Foal (1/3🧵) #NorthAtlantic #NSwx #SableIslandwx #spring #grazing #foal Today’s spring weather was mild with max temp 10.5°C, ~16 mm of rain in the morning, & a light S breeze shifting to WNW gusting to 17 kts. With his mother & other members of his family band grazing nearby…

100

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Shipwreck Buried, Excavated, and Buried Again (1/4🧵) 🚢 For years this large fragment of shipwreck was mostly buried under a high dune along the south beach. Some wood and a rusted piece of iron were visible, like a big hook sticking out of the dune’s side, but there was little to indicate …

1103

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Grazing at the Edge 🌎🌿 A Sable Island stallion is eating green marram grass that is growing among the dry, dead leaves of winter. This chestnut is one of a group of four males grazing on the exposed, windswept top of a high dune. It is a north beach dune with a steep eroding dune face … (1/2🧵)…

160

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Wet Sandflat and Spring Sunshine 🌎 #NorthAtlantic #SableIslandwx #nswx During the storm last Sunday and Monday, high waves swept over the berm and flooded the Sandy Plain. Today the flooding had diminished leaving shallow patches of water gleaming and rippled by a 10 kt southwesterly wind… (⅓🧵)...

140

Sable Island Institute @sable-institute.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Sighted While Doing the Sable Island Beach Survey, May 6 🌎🌿🪶 Seen from north beach, a stallion standing in a field of fresh, green marram grass. In the distance is one of the island’s bald dunes. It is a wandering dune moving across the island as wind blows sand from the north side to the south.1/3🧵

171