View allAll Photos Tagged DonnaNook
Most pups tend to sleep off a rather large meal. This grey seal pup was very lively and a complete cutey... lots of engagement with the camera.
Donna Nook is a wonderful place to visit on the Lincolnshire coast. There tends to be a really biting cold wind coming in from the sea but you forget all that with the wonders of what is on that beach. My friend and I witnessed a birth and..... unfortunately lots of fighting between naturally protective mothers protecting their pups and males wanting their pick of who to mate with. Then of course there are the numerous pups who, when awake, will grace your camera with some lovely images.
Photographed at Donna Nook, UK
One of the heartbreaking things about visiting Donna Nook is no matter how often you keep returning to a pup and no mother is there, you do not know (unless you go back the next day) whether he/she will be reunited with his/her mother or not. Many cows fall asleep nearby in a pool of water, keeping an eye on their pup, or they disappear for 6 hours but do return. The absolutely heartrending thing is that not all of them return.
According to the wardens, this is usually because the mother senses something wrong with the pup or some daft eejit goes and touches the pup, or it smells of dog, which guarantees maternal rejection. The more inexperienced the mother, the more likely she will reject the pup if she is concerned.
This little one's mother was nowhere to be seen and despite coming back again and again, we didnt see her. Without food, they die within 3 to 4 days.
Every time we visit, there are always one or two pups who I worry about. Brings a tear to my eye knowing there is nothing that can be done. Good old humans eh?
Actually, the little sweetie isnt waving, though that's the general belief. Apparently it's their way of saying 'You're too close!' (Though if you look at my lens, you will see I was a fair way away from the pup. Though it was nice to have the eye contact.
Last Donna Nook image for this year.
Grey seal pups spend a lot of time on their back, either calling for mum or sleeping. Captured at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire.
This stunning seal pup is about a week old here... and quite rotund, though we saw bigger and rounder pups also. He's just had his fill of his mother's milk. The mothers only stay with them for about 4 weeks before going back out to sea to feed and mate. The pups stay on land until they ‘put their brave pants on’ and venture out to sea for the first time.
The active seal pups were playing up to the camera at Donna Nook nature reserve, despite the cold wind coming in from the sea. This sweetheart was all eye contact.
He would have been golden if he hadnt had such a sudden dunking by his furious mother! Taken at Donna Nook.
I'm relieved to say that the animated shouty behaviour was not directed towards me. There was another cow slightly to her right who was edging closer and she was not amused.
If the mum's space isnt being invaded by another cow, then they are harassed by the bulls. The sound of the pups calling and cows shouting fills the air. It's incredibly eerie but a wonderful experience.
Photographed at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, UK
I could happily spend all day here.
Grey Seal - Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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Humbled to watch this.. I literally held my breath. As you can see this grey seal mama was exhausted. Here, he is still covered in some placental remains. For a while, we couldnt see him and he was surrounded by his mum and the cow behind him. All we could see were both mums sniffing him. But mama moved him around so he could feed and we kept returning to see if we could see him and if he was ok. I'll update those images later.
New life photographed at Donna Nook. SOOOO good to see!!
Mama grey seal urging him on to the sand dunes at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire. (I'm pretty sure she was pushing him from behind!)
Donna Nook pup is a week old. His mother was nearby. As you can see, he'd just fed!! So sleep was imminent!
This picture for me encompasses everything that is adorable in natures miracles.
Donna Nook now accounts for 1.5% of the world's grey seal population. The work of the wardens and the wildlife trust, is therefore crucial, for the future of these lovely animals.
Young Grey Seal Pup- Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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visited Donna Nook in Lincolnshire this week and was met with over 520 bulls (lots of fighting..) 1600 cows and 1500 adorable and sleepy pups!
Whilst in the morning it was very eerie with the pups all calling and the mothers warning other cows away, when they did wake, they were more than happy to pose for the camera like this youngster. I even got to see a newborn this year.
Taken last November at Donna Nook National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Doesn't the ear look like an eye? :)
Grey seal pups are precocial, with mothers returning to sea to forage once pups are weaned. Pups also undergo a post-weaning fast before leaving land and learning to swim. Within a month or so they shed the pup fur, grow dense waterproof adult fur, and leave for the sea to learn to fish for themselves.
Grey seal pups are precocial, with mothers returning to sea to forage once pups are weaned. Pups also undergo a post-weaning fast before leaving land and learning to swim. Within a month or so they shed the pup fur, grow dense waterproof adult fur, and leave for the sea to learn to fish for themselves.
These wonderful mama's mean business!! There was no way she was going to let another cow take her baby.
Taken at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire
Grey seals often fight and can be seriously hurt during mating. The cow is the one about to munch on the side of the Bull's cheek.
The birth took all of 30 seconds, then as mama approached her pup, the pup edged towards another cow. The pup's mother kept the pup close under her flipper whilst she attacked the other cow who was too close, but the fight was loud and the pup got an early christening!! As you will see, there was chaos and the pup was somewhat stunned with the noise and suddenly getting a soaking in the water. He stayed there for a long while.
Grey seal pups are precocial, with mothers returning to sea to forage once pups are weaned. Pups also undergo a post-weaning fast before leaving land and learning to swim. Within a month or so they shed the pup fur, grow dense waterproof adult fur, and leave for the sea to learn to fish for themselves.
What a delight to experience the first few moments of this newly born pup.
Donna Nook now accounts for 1.5% of the world's grey seal population. The work of the wardens and the wildlife trust, is therefore crucial, for the future of these lovely animals.
Grey Seal Pup - Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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More seal pics from last November I'm afraid.
The female on the left was starting to take an interest in the pup. Mum was not happy....
Donna Nook now accounts for 1.5% of the world's grey seal population. The work of the wardens and the wildlife trust, is therefore crucial, for the future of these lovely animals.
Young Grey Seal Pup- Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos. Actual date of photo 10th November 2021
Mating season is a violent time for Grey seals. Photographed at Donna Nook.
No more heartbreaking images like this. I just wanted to share.
Grey seal pups are precocial, with mothers returning to sea to forage once pups are weaned. Pups also undergo a post-weaning fast before leaving land and learning to swim. Within a month or so they shed the pup fur, grow dense waterproof adult fur, and leave for the sea to learn to fish for themselves.
The mother tends to remain just offshore between suckling bouts and rarely feeds, losing up to a quarter of her body weight before her pup is weaned. Grey seal pups are weaned after losing their baby coat at 3 to 4 weeks of age. At this point, they weigh 45 to 50 kg; three times their birth weight. The pups live off these fat reserves whilst learning to feed, which may take several weeks.
This is another picture for me encompassing everything that is adorable in natures miracles.
One to pluck the heart strings.
Donna Nook now accounts for 1.5% of the world's grey seal population. The work of the wardens and the wildlife trust, is therefore crucial, for the future of these lovely animals.
Young Grey Seal Pup- Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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Grey seal pups are precocial, with mothers returning to sea to forage once pups are weaned. Pups also undergo a post-weaning fast before leaving land and learning to swim. Within a month or so they shed the pup fur, grow dense waterproof adult fur, and leave for the sea to learn to fish for themselves.
The females only spend 18-20 days ashore, giving birth and suckling one pup.. and come into oestrus towards the end of lactation (roughly 16 days after giving birth!) and mate again, often reluctantly.... Mating is shockingly violent. leading to injuries of the female. These two look like 'love's young dream..' but it wasnt. The cow is at the front looking unsure. The bull is behind her looking absolutely full of himself. They had already fought when I took this shot and they continued to fight. He made a complete mess of her face before mating. It was tough, emotional viewing.
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.
My first visit for 2 years and what a joy to be back. The pupping season is later than normal so numbers were down today, but still there was plenty to see.
I was going to start with a cute overload shot but opted for this comical capture instead.
A great shot for a caption.
Grey Seal - Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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My last post for a few days hope you all enjoy it.
Donna Nook now accounts for 1.5% of the world's grey seal population. The work of the wardens and the wildlife trust, is therefore crucial, for the future of these lovely animals.
Young Grey Seal Pup - Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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