Grey Seals and a few Birds.

On Sunday I decided to go and photograph Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus. The UK has important populations of this species and there is a good sized colony which is a 90 minute drive from where I live. There is a big degree of sexual dimorphism between the males and females, males can get to over 300kg and females about half this. They come ashore in October and November to give birth, but the pups don't stay white and fluffy for long (up to 3 weeks) they grow and put on weight at an astonishing rate and can double their weight in 10 days. In fact I was too late this year and all the pups were already well grown. It was a really windy day with the seals getting a sand blasting and closing the eye that was into the wind. There were also a lot of wading birds on the sands along with Brent Geese Branta bernicla.
All photographs © Carl Corbidge

Bar Tailed Godwit

 Above and Below Brent Geese

 Dunlin

Sanderling

The Herps are Sleeping so now for Mammals and Birds

The Reptile and Amphibian season is well and truly over and unlike last year when I had a amphibian trip to Portugal to look forward to, iv'e got a long wait this winter. However there is still plenty of other wildlife to look out for including a report of Otters not too far from where I live. In the meantime I have been around the Peak District and have got some OK images of a few species of birds. So heres a few shots from November.

Above 3 Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Golden Plover

Red Grouse

Little Grebe

Nuthatch

Pergrine Falcon

A not entirely wild second Peregrine.