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Seal before voyage

As I type, Winter has arrived in Orkney, with sub zero temperatures, a dusting of snow and a personal preference for hibernating on the sofa. This change of weather was preceded by a weekend of gales and we had to spare a thought for any Grey Seal pups on a west-facing shore who will have had a miserable time of it.

Shortly before our trip to Aberdeen, we visited the pupping beaches at Burwick in South Ronaldsay. We counted nearly 100 pups in various stages of maturity: from recently born; through the "white fluffball" stage; to moulted into a sea-worthy black pelage and about to take the plunge towards independence.

Here are a few photos of the day:

Pupping beaches


A recently-born pup

A suckling pup, piling on the pounds 

A mum (on the right) warning off another mum who has strayed too close to her pup

It's a wonderful bit of coastline

Distant sun rays over mainland Scotland

The walk also provided a bit of ornithological interest with a big flock of Barnacle Geese, a couple of Woodcocks and a Hen Harrier.

This annual pilgrimage always feels special. It is all too easy to take year-round seals for granted, but they are a significant part of the islands' wildlife (predator and prey) as well as culturally important for the myths and legends which surround them.

Comments

  1. Brrr sounds chilly in your corner. Evidently we had a sighting recently of the largest number of barnacle geese flying south. Clearly they are escaping your weather. Who can blame them. B x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This time last year we were knee deep in Bramblings and Waxwings. Nothing so far this year...

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