Atlantic grey seals at Donna Nook

[Carp37]

I'm not really sure if I should be posting this here (mods- give me a shout if it's totally inappropriate please), but I've just had a great day out at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire looking at grey seals- apparently they've had over 1,000 pups this year. For anyone within driving distance in the UK it's an amazing experience.

[torbanite]

Nice photos!

It looks like you were quite close for some of the shots?
Did the mothers not get a bit twitchy about it?
I guess if they make their home on an RAF practice range they must be pretty laid back about life in general.. ;)

[L number Banana]

Those pics are awesome! The little white ones are just adorable. Lucky, lucky you!!

I too am amazed that you got so close without getting a bite out of the deal. Seals can be pretty nasty.

I'm not really sure if I should be posting this here (mods- give me a shout if it's totally inappropriate please)

At least this post is water and critters, some of mine are really OT and no one has grouched at me.

[andywoolloo]

oh my goodness!!!! so cute!!!

[Carp37]

It looks like you were quite close for some of the shots?
Did the mothers not get a bit twitchy about it?
I guess if they make their home on an RAF practice range they must be pretty laid back about life in general.. ;)

For the main part of the reserve, there's a double layer of very low fencing between the beach and the walking area- some of the seals actually lay against the inner fence, so they're actually within touching distance. A few intrepid mothers have their pups outside this area, but I resisted the temptation to get within more than 10 yards of these.

I did get a reproachful glare from a mother and her pup when a Eurofighter plane flew overhead- it woke them up and they seemed to think it was my fault.

I'd definitely give the bulls a bit of a wide berth though- the blood round their necks is a good indication that they've got powerful teeth. I remember fishing at a rocky cove in Devon nearly 20 years ago, when near low tide, a BIG bull grey seal (I estimated about 7 feet long and over 500 lbs.) suddenly swam through where I was fishing- I must have crossed the gully it was sleeping in when getting to the rock I was fishing off.