sealed the day

We got down to Donna Nook at first light to beat the crowds even though the crowds didn't materialise because the field car parks had been declared closed, waterlogged and the website asked people not to go. We parked on the smaller regular car park and donned our boots just as the heavens opened. It stopped after about 15 minutes and we soon dried off.
There were lots of seals, bulls and pups. They are mostly inactive to conserve energy but when they do move they are so entertaining.
The pups are cute, some were born a few hours earlier they are able to see, call, move and suckle as soon as they are born.Their milk teeth are shed before birth and permanent teeth pop through soon after. At birth their coat is yellowish from the amniotic fluid, this colour fades after a few days to reveal the white coat. Immediately after birth the mother will sniff her pup, touching with her nose. She learns the smell and its call in the first half hour and over the next 4 days she forms a strong bond. These behaviours are on full view from the safety of the Wildlife Trusts well prepared and fenced path.


I couldn't help adding too many extras. The last but one extra is called Ropeneck, she has returned to the same place in front of the fence every year except 1 since 2000, we always look out for her. When she first arrived she was a young mother in severe pain with netting wrapped tightly around her neck, the volunteers cut her free.