It’s that time of year again. The Grey Seals have started to pup their way through the winter. The beaches around Norfolk are now starting to fill with creamy white young seals that will quickly fatten to become the round balls of fur that all too soon become independent from their mothers.
This pup was one of many on one stretch of beach at the weekend. Having just been born I think his mum was just a tad unsure of what had just happened!
Just love the Sanderlings that play here on the beaches in Winter; never wanting to get their feet wet but always wanting to be at the water’s edge. Francis Duggan got it right in his poem
‘The Sanderling’
The sanderlings run up and down the bay
And from incoming waves they run away
Short winter days soon end. It was sunny but cold.
As we walked along the beach last week a flock of Snow Bunting flew in, apparently off the sea. I’m sure they didn’t, but again as they were disturbed by dog walkers the whole flock flew out to sea. We lost sight of them but waited a while until they returned, which they duly did. The whole flock floated in like feathered blossom being carried along on a breezy day. As they landed their long shadows betrayed the lateness of the afternoon. We still managed a further hour or more of light enabling a Short eared Owl to put on an equally impressive performance.
Letter From Norfolk 