Autumn and winter is when most female grey seals haul themselves ashore to give birth.

It seems like a strange time to do it, when icy winds are blowing and the nights are long. One explanation is that after a summer of catching fish, the females are simply in great shape to feed their young.

When pups are born the mothers spin round to sniff them and get to know their smell. The pups are covered in fluffy white fur, not good camouflage on sand or pebbles you might think, but that's because it's a relic from the ice age when they would have been born on snow!

Female grey seals are dedicated parents, spending several weeks feeding their pups and losing up-to 65kg in the process. The pups drink two and a half litres of milk every day and it's so rich pups can grow by as much as 30kg in two weeks.

After a month or so, females leave their pups and head back out to sea where they feed and mate again. The pups can spend up to two weeks all alone on the beach while they build up the courage (and the right fur) to take the plunge into the sea and learn to fish for themselves.

Tri-colored Heron

I just returned from Florida...I'll be in front of this silly computer for months!!

Many thanks to all those who View, Comment and or Fave My Photos... It is greatly appreciated... Roy

All images full frame unless the filename reflects "Crop"

Dégustation d'une rose par la chenille du bombyx etoilé ( Orgyia antiqua )

2821 2020 02 02 001 file

brightness edit in Flickr photo editor

Bukaczowce (ukr. Букачівці) - Bursztyn (ukr. Бурштин)

Red shed in the field with some shadows in the morning light.

Also known as Perth. Ancient capital of Scotland and spark of the Scottish Reformation.

... fuhr am 27.03.2013 durch Eilendorf in Richtung Aachen West.

Iceberg at Illulissat (66 °N), Greenland

NX300

ƒ/1.8 45.0 mm 1/80 1600

On the Mad River near Blue Lake, California on the Northcoast of Humboldt County

Just a good Merlin hanging out during our "raptor season". I don't see them very often, so always a treat.

Rudagalvis kiras (Larus ridibundus) Black-headed Gull. Šventoji

Nido di Gufo Reale ( Bubo - Bubo )

Famiglia: Strigidi )

Just too much water!

2821

5dr Hatchback

Antrim Registered

Perth.

Aguas Calientes

Departamento del Cusco

Perú

02.06.2018. Ворохта. 2TЭ10M-2821

I narrowly managed to beat the this weed sprayer train led by a KCS GP40-3 to Camden after getting screwed by clouds in Little Canada. Here, they're approaching Humboldt Yard after crossing the Mississippi River.

Frosone "Coccothraustes coccothraustes"