Stingray migration
Sandra Critelli/Barcroft Media

It was the end of this June when amateur photographer Sandra Critelli, who was looking for whale sharks, found herself in the right place at the right time to experienced nature at its best. Her boat was surrounded by thousands of rays swimming together like autumn leaves floating in a sunlit pond... gently moved by the wind. The images speak for themselves.
The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters as they follow the clockwise current from Mexico's Yucatan peninsula to western Florida in schools of as many as 10,000. These particular kind of rays are known as Cow-nose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) due to their distinctive, highdomed heads, giving them a curiously bovine appearance. They measure up to 7ft (2.1 metres) from wing-tip to wing-tip and have a long poisonous sting on their tail capable of killing a human even though they are pretty shy and rarely become dangerous.

Stingray migration
Sandra Critelli/Barcroft Media
Stingray migration
Sandra Critelli/Barcroft Media
Stingray migration
Sandra Critelli/Barcroft Media

Comments

52 Response to 'When thousands of rays are flying under your boat'

  1. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1236465660000#c6081284023773750612'> March 7, 2009 at 11:41 PM

    When Nature performs like this it is always in the realm of miraculous. My compliments to Sandra Critelli for such marvelous pictures.

     

  2. Rodrigo
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240184400000#c5759989584914897096'> April 20, 2009 at 1:40 AM

    Wonderful pictures

     

  3. .robert
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240579020000#c2177357667899418793'> April 24, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    I was in a canoe once and had that happen, but only a hundred or so rays.

     

  4. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240582620000#c4045249968770382800'> April 24, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    "nature at HIS best"..??
    Whaaaa?
    Its MOTHER nature to you, sir.
    (Or Madam)

     

  5. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240582680000#c3122002356003348595'> April 24, 2009 at 4:18 PM

    "I was in a canoe once and had that happen, but only a hundred or so rays."

    My sister was bitten by a moose once.....

     

  6. Harold Fowler
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240585620000#c5988331829347933074'> April 24, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    Wow,that is truly amazing!

    RT
    www.anonymity.es.tc

     

  7. Unknown
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240586100000#c2430778416189328002'> April 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM

    They are probably heading out to eat up all the oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.

    Hog-nosed rays are out of control. We need to find a market for them so the oysters can recover...

     

  8. Eric Photoshop Gormly
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240595580000#c1910485560376885012'> April 24, 2009 at 7:53 PM

    Shopped!

     

  9. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240606020000#c8305314256885153072'> April 24, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    Krikey!

     

  10. David Fiedler
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1240629720000#c1241127961485095356'> April 25, 2009 at 5:22 AM

    This so reminds me of an Escher drawing...beautiful, thank you!

     

  11. photo retouching
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1246286680238#c9092181209108089180'> June 29, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    Great blog. It is a pity all your pictures have been removed for copyright reasons. Would have loved to take a look.

     

  12. image masking
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1246861937043#c8078559993485687164'> July 6, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    Really amazing!!!

     

  13. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1266157125516#c4209920095388988329'> February 14, 2010 at 3:18 PM

    Good post and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Say thank you you seeking your information.

     

  14. Photo Retouching
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1277431481325#c3138453927182743719'> June 25, 2010 at 4:04 AM

    Wow, love that sort of stuff, keep on sharing.

     

  15. criticpapa
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1307720612053#c987886501293167928'> June 10, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    whoa!!!, you had a passion in blogging, thumbs up for your work of love.. Hehe very inspiring ideas,


    anyway I'm william
    mind if I put a link back to you?


    see my works here ------> Dress Suits

     

  16. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1360812706684#c8478250176179698522'> February 14, 2013 at 4:31 AM

    c# complete ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/fr/Outside-the-Ivory-Tower-A-Guide-for-Academics-Considering-Alternative-Careers/p195532/ ebook textbooks on mirc [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/e-Procurement-From-Strategy-to-Implementation/p139687/]teachers and the law ebook[/url] google adwords ebook

     

  17. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1361256071184#c5786030501818429082'> February 19, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    path of daggers ebook http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/de/Adobe-Photoshop/c1424/?page=5 audio ebook [url=http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/The-Language-Instinct/p19660/]collection ebook[/url] paparoneo ebook

     

  18. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1363380350920#c6001887770600449913'> March 15, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    [url=http://onlinemedistore.com/products/fludac.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/2.jpg[/img][/url]
    pamida pharmacy http://onlinemedistore.com/products/lamisil.htm american association of colleges of pharmacy homepae [url=http://onlinemedistore.com/products/elavil.htm]walmart pharmacy gessner[/url]
    pharmacy cart http://onlinemedistore.com/products/prazosin.htm stiffel pharmacy lamp [url=http://onlinemedistore.com/products/cialis.htm]cialis[/url]
    hotel pharmacy refills http://onlinemedistore.com/products/chloramphenicol.htm cross stitch pharmacy [url=http://onlinemedistore.com/products/tulasi.htm]usa pharmacy vicodin[/url]
    pharmacy techniciansa and drug calculations http://onlinemedistore.com/products/lysexl.htm now hiring pharmacy techs to work from home [url=http://onlinemedistore.com/products/rumalaya.htm]rumalaya[/url]

     

  19. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1367838601083#c8894294548682347955'> May 6, 2013 at 1:10 PM

    Hi, after reading this remarkable paragraph i am also happy to share my know-how here with friends.


    Feel free to surf to my page: acoustic guitar a chord

     

  20. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1370573397679#c2566679213485748002'> June 7, 2013 at 4:49 AM

    teen dating network http://loveepicentre.com/map/ dating service free to browse
    jake gyllenhal reese witherspoon still dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq/]teen dating services[/url] best dating site in canada
    email sign up dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com]absolute power dating torrent[/url] online dating services for adult singles [url=http://loveepicentre.com/user/onenight/]onenight[/url] brussels free dating

     

  21. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1398774108134#c8042019214490020333'> April 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM

    For any kind of marine surveys and for marine survey experts visit us @ www.constellationms.com

    Boats and divers have been hunting for survivors from the sunken ferry - but many remain missing
    More than 200 people - many of them schoolchildren - remain missing after a ferry sank on Wednesday off South Korea. The BBC looks at some of the questions surrounding the disaster.
    Why did the boat sink?
    Rescued passengers report hearing a loud thud before the boat began to tilt. This may have been caused by the vessel striking a submerged object such as a rock or a sunken container.
    However, the noise may also have been caused by large cargo coming loose aboard the vessel.
    The ferry is known to have made a sharp turn shortly before it issued a distress call but is not clear whether this was planned or the result of an external factor, the South Korean Constellation MaritimeMinistry said.
    "The distress call was put out and the authorities had a structured response," says Bruce Reid, CEO of the International Maritime Rescue Federation, a body that promotes safety at sea. But, he says, it is still too early to come to any conclusions about the effectiveness of the rescue mission.
    More questions are being raised about instructions given to passengers.
    Several survivors say that the crew ordered them to stay in place when the vessel ran into trouble. Ultimately, only two of the ferry's lifeboats were deployed. Many passengers were rescued after jumping into the sea, wearing lifejackets.
    Oh Yong-seok, a crew member, told the Associated Press news agency that the officers initially tried to stabilise the vessel. He says they instructed passengers to put on life-jackets and stay on the ship. The evacuation order was only given after 30 minutes, Mr Oh said, and it may not have reached all the passengers.
    "Those currents are quite swift, [which] means that the rescue area would be quite broad," he says.
    After previous accidents, passengers have sometimes been rescued from air pockets within sunken vessels. However, there is less chance of surviving for long in cold waters, such as those off the shores of South Korea.
    Passengers or crew would be very lucky to find themselves in an air pocket, says Mr John Noble,constellation marine services. "If they did, they would instinctively make a noise by banging on the metalwork," he says. "And I'm quite sure the rescuers would be listening for that."

     

  22. Unknown
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1463751705178#c3643869132152711645'> May 20, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    Beautiful article. thanks for sharing.
    Clipping Creations India | ecommerce image editing service

     

  23. Rual Raise
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1465680690861#c8885219161929322732'> June 11, 2016 at 11:31 PM

    You have given great post its really excellent.
    clipping path
    remove white background

     

  24. Photo Clipping Service
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1465928468226#c3483589083254309395'> June 14, 2016 at 8:21 PM

    I like the blog because of its fabulous colour combination. Black and red combination gives it a great appealing appearance.

     

  25. clipping solution India
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1513403325689#c9175607969491678159'> December 16, 2017 at 6:48 AM

    I always love to read this blog because of it's helpful post.thanks

     

  26. Carol J. Lacy
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1513838200936#c7327065443148500323'> December 21, 2017 at 7:36 AM

    It's a fantastic blog with an outstanding post.Thanks for sharing with us.
    Raster to vector convertion

     

  27. clipping path service
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1545214231211#c6295391712527191932'> December 19, 2018 at 11:10 AM

    Wonderful article write hare.
    clipping path service | clipping path

     

  28. Robert Smith
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1545296324647#c6649701744327476954'> December 20, 2018 at 9:58 AM

    Sounds interesting, thanks for sharing the useful content with us and keep sharing in future.

     

  29. RoseMarry
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1555671522418#c5673514883279287789'> April 19, 2019 at 12:58 PM

    Great article. Couldn’t be write much better!Used Volvo S60 Cars For Sale

     

  30. SAFFRANAUTOS
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1557395676607#c4277747915190462663'> May 9, 2019 at 11:54 AM

    Japanese used cars for sale

     

  31. SAFFRANAUTOS
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1557396045304#c1351250036512711542'> May 9, 2019 at 12:00 PM

    Japanese used cars for sale SAFFRANAUTOS

     

  32. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1558368834056#c2040817438360805462'> May 20, 2019 at 6:13 PM

    iPhone
    Lampung
    Komponen HP
    lampung
    Sharp
    Kursus
    Samsung
    Philips
    HP

     

  33. mayank
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1563554066610#c6134130267475524702'> July 19, 2019 at 6:34 PM

    Thanks for provide great informatic and looking beautiful blog, really nice required information & the things i never imagined and i would request, wright more blog and blog post like that for us. Thanks you once agian

    Birth certificate in delhi
    Birth certificate in ghaziabad
    Birth certificate in gurgaon
    Birth certificate in noida
    How to get birth certificate in ghaziabad
    how to get birth certificate in delhi
    birth certificate agent in delhi
    how to download birth certificate
    birth certificate in greater noida
    birth certificate agent in delhi
    Birth certificate delhi

     

  34. Design Service Asia
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1568902359785#c1474688268992497792'> September 19, 2019 at 4:12 PM


    This is great information. I am appreciate.
    Design Service Asia | Best Clipping Path Service Provider Company.

     

  35. http://www.designercountry.com/
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1574795773514#c780994772975528719'> November 26, 2019 at 8:16 PM

    Great important post, where you make the main focus, really makes me happy for its necessary of importance. After all it is a great article with everything.

     

  36. John Browney
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1583688242942#c5805323297209385190'> March 8, 2020 at 6:24 PM

    i like travelling so much i always use rental services in order to take a car anywhere in the world! really great idea i think!

     

  37. Sonjitkumar
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1585857002763#c4575826050877818519'> April 2, 2020 at 9:50 PM

    I really enjoyed my time by visiting your blog.Thanks for this momentous post. Sonjitkumar

     

  38. paul micheal
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1585857159148#c2757521167129774766'> April 2, 2020 at 9:52 PM

    I would never have thought of re-creating spaghetti-0's, but I'll bet the grandkids will love them. paul micheal

     

  39. women jewelry
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1585857312779#c740712267891352516'> April 2, 2020 at 9:55 PM

    I just got to this amazing site not long ago. I was actually captured with the piece of resources you have got here. Big thumbs up for making such wonderful blog page. women jewelry

     

  40. Edna BCart
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1585857516976#c675632264202659840'> April 2, 2020 at 9:58 PM

    I am sure you spend a lot of time on doing this site! I'm really here to appreciate that you are a good blogger!!! This is a really nice blog. Edna BCart

     

  41. Car photo editing
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1587191956177#c232211460423418776'> April 18, 2020 at 8:39 AM

    What an excellent article. Really wonderful blog. Thanks

     

  42. Clipping Path Service
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1587192040036#c2583069999316259989'> April 18, 2020 at 8:40 AM

    Amazing website, It's really useful for us. Thanks

     

  43. Jack Michael
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1610965989365#c5608420256853525372'> January 18, 2021 at 11:33 AM

    Your article is a useful discussion for everyone. Really, you are a very excellent writer. I am very impressed to follow your article. The discussion is about the important things. Hence, thanks for sharing your great discussion.

     

  44. Salena Gibbz
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1615884110952#c1024511092512770936'> March 16, 2021 at 9:41 AM

    Thanks for sharing this information really knowledgeable post keep it up and I must say you should post more informative article to increase our more knowledge. Cinconize Infographs

     

  45. New
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1616822717448#c8297400938702464537'> March 27, 2021 at 6:25 AM

    List Your Business Free - InDubai

     

  46. Image Restoration Center
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1617088198014#c4214530588101671487'> March 30, 2021 at 9:09 AM

    Thanks for sharing this articles this is really helpful for me. We are providing services for your old image to make it new. You can avail this service Image restoration center in discounted price.

     

  47. trendynewmagz
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1618666345041#c648345754246452322'> April 17, 2021 at 3:32 PM

    I haven't seen this type of article and containing unique content which is really very helpful. MC Hammer

     

  48. Sumon Ahamed
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1622489471720#c5198441028495251665'> May 31, 2021 at 9:31 PM


    Really useful resource! Thanks for sharing.
    Clipping Path Service

     

  49. johnfour
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1628129919754#c1351458215831365548'> August 5, 2021 at 4:18 AM

    uhrenbox 10 uhren
    uhrenbox 12 uhren
    uhrenbox 20 uhren

     

  50. ebony lorange
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1629801403317#c7754154482251801636'> August 24, 2021 at 12:36 PM

    Well things here you have done. Liked and appreciated such good job. Image Retouching
    Photo Editing Helps
    Neck Joint
    Photoshop Guideline
    Clipping Path Tutorial
    Drop Shadow Helps
    Background Remove
    Image Editing
    Image Cut Out
    Photo Manipulation

     

  51. clipping path service
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1648363845159#c1176612788384982188'> March 27, 2022 at 8:50 AM

    This blog is very informative and i learned a lot.
    Clipping Path Service Provider Company

     

  52. photoshop color correction tutorial
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/when-thousands-of-rays-are-flying-under.html?showComment=1651051378602#c1109404253170286276'> April 27, 2022 at 11:22 AM

    loved your work very much. keep it up.