Sealed

This young male Grey Seal was hauled out on a lonely Norfolk beach this week. He was resting and we left without disturbing him.

A Sea of Seal

Some big numbers of Grey Seals on the East coast at the moment. On yesterday’s tour we estimated we could see at least a thousand from one viewpoint. Lots of moulting moaning itchy pinnipeds.

Deep dark chambers

Something endearing about those deep dark eyes. So young, so beautiful. A new beginning.

Photo taken from behind barriers from a sensible distance with a very long lens.

Magnificent Beast

He may look a little coy but don’t let him fool you, this magnificent beast is a predator. He’ll have one of your fingers off in heartbeat. This large male Grey Seal was basking off the boat on one of our tours the other week.

New

Newly born into the world. Vulnerable but not cold … far too mild for that.

Noisy offspring

It’s that time again. Grey seals are pushing out the pups on our beaches in phenomenal numbers this year. On one of the tours last weekend we watched this young one suckling. It was a cold day and I bet that warm rich milk was just the biz. After a while the mother got a little fed up and rolled over much to the protestations of her noisy  offspring!

Beach Cutie

We were walking down the beach the other day and this little cutie popped up at the side of us. Grey Seals can be endearing as anything or as ugly as sin.

The Chris Evans of the pinniped world

I’ve seen ginger Common Seals before. They come out of the Thames Estuary where they get stained by the iron laden water. However I have not seen a ginger Grey Seal previously. This one was sat on a Norfolk beach. I wonder if it too has spent some time in the Thames Estuary.

 

All black

Facebook friend Debbie mentioned a melanistic Grey seal pub she’d seen and kindly gave me directions. I eventually found him. He was well hidden in the dunes and oh my word he was jet black; everything was black, fur, skin, nails, whiskers, the lot!

It was a bright mild day; out of the wind, dare I say warm. It was an odd day for late December. He was hiding among the dune grasses seemingly trying to keep cool by keeping in the shade away from the sun. Perhaps his black plumage was ‘attracting’ the heat more than he wanted. He was certainly well hidden. It took me almost an hour to get a photo and see his head properly. Eventually he rolled over and showed his face as he looked over his shoulder.

This is the first melanistic seal of the many thousands of common or grey that I’ve seen. Not Common at all.

A Christmas Baby

Down on the beach I watched this recently born Grey Seal – a proper Christmas young one. How helpless he looked made me wonder if he would still be here the next time I visited. I feel sure however that he’ll soon dry out and get to be as cute and fluffy as his well fed older neighbour.

I’ll just take this opportunity to wish everyone who reads the blog and Facebook posts a Merry Christmas. In addition I’d like to thank all my customers who have supported me over the last year and wish them an extra special time.

I am so looking forward to the diary of dates mounting up for 2016 … but we’ll talk about those later.