Hello World

During our trips on Monday there were a noticeable increase in new born seals on Brownsman, Wames and Staple Island compared to the last few days. We did not get out on Tuesday due to the weather but when we returned on Wednesday we were gob smacked as there was an explosion of pups everywhere. Guessing a few hundred were born in one day and when the National Rangers eventually got out to do their seal counts on Thursday the result was very evident, with 504 seal pups in total. What a great start to the season for the pups and long may it last.

We have also witnessed a new born which was incredible and then seen the awful side of nature with 2 gulls eating a still born. I know its nature and its not nice to see, but I suppose one hand feeds the other. The blood on their bills is something out of a horror film but again we might not like it but its how other they survive. I was talking to a diver a few weeks ago and he said that he saw a still born on the seabed during one of his dives but it did not phase him at all, as he watched a sea urchin, and starfish eating the decomposing body so it was helping them to survive as well.

At first we thought she had miscarried due to the amount of blood, but as we passed again on a later trip we saw the pup and it was covers in blood too.

We also watched a mother feed two seal pups. Our first thought was that the born mother must be dead, but as we watched it longer and longer we realised that this was not the case. The mother was feeding her own child but was then hitting the other pup to tell it to go away. She then turned over in such a manner that her own pup got some milk but the other pup got none. Again cruel but the pups mother would not be to far away.

We have also seen the very cute side too with some pups enjoying a little sleep in the sunshine. I swear the last seal pup picture was dreaming about something nice as it cuddles into the stone by the little grin on its face.

Once again thank you for taking time to read our blog and I hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

OVER AND OUT

New Arrivals

Well its that time of the year once again and as we near the end of the season new arrivals are starting to appear. Yes, I'm taking about the new born seal pups.

We had a few early ones this year but unfortunately they did not make it but the ones that are starting to arrive now seen to be okay. I think the ones that were born early were premature or just not strong enough, so lets just hope the weather over the next few days does not reek havoc on the new born's and they find a sheltered spot and muddle through it.

Its lovely seeing the pups and its lovely seeing our guests faces when they see them for the first time. All we here is ahhhh aren't they cute. They might look cute but I would hate to be born on some rocks in the middle of the sea at this time of year. Its bad enough in the summer never mind now but I suppose it nature and that's what they have done for as long as they been here and they will now better than me why they wait until the winter.

It's funny over the last few weeks as I have been taking divers out to play with the seals and they have been having a great time and you get to hear lots of little stories when their dive. They are so playful I have never laughed as much in years. They love yellow fins. These are just some of the comments I've heard lately but little do some of the diver know is that they are as horney as hell, this is why they are so playful. I don't know how many times I've heard them say, they love yellow, black, blue fins (flippers) and they think they are special because they love that colour. I don't have the heart to tell them that it does not matter, just as long as they have fun and enjoy every minute in the water that's all that matters.

Lets hope the weather is kind to the new arrivals this year and I will keep you updated with all the numbers etc.

A new born Atlantic Grey Seal pup enjoying the sunshine.  

A new born drinking its mothers milk on the waters edge.

A new born's mother keeping a close eye on her child as we watch from a distance. 

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Until next time

OVER AND OUT

Perfect Whiskers

Since it seems to be the in thing at the moment with all the men having beards I thought it would be prefect timing to show you a young bull seal with his perfect whiskers. Okay it is not a bearded seal but he is proud of his young whiskers and with him being so dark in colour they stand out like a sore thumb.

Yes its not like the Bearded Seal we saw in 2011 at Low Newton, which was really rare but for a normal Atlantic Grey Seal I was very impressed with the whiskers and he looked proud of them too.

Below is a real Bearded Seal we saw back in 2011 and today Grey Seal

Yes, I know they both look a bit funny but there is no need to laugh about it. 

Sorry...….

Thank you for taking time to read this blog and I do hope you enjoyed it. Once again thank you and until next time. 

OVER AND OUT

Albino Seal

It started 3 years ago when we first saw this rare albino seal and now I'm starting to get really curious.
Where does it come from? Why does it return roughly the same time and the same place for the last 3 years?
I have so many questions that need answered, so I need to start investigating a little bit more into this one and if you are reading this post and know something then please get in touch.

Its funny as I was in the middle of my speech about the seals when I saw this white seal swimming under the surface and my first thoughts were that the visibility was very clear and it must be brilliant for the divers to play with the seals.

I looked across at Andy and he said the same thing. He also asked if I had seen the seal that was very white in colour. I was just about to say yes when it came to the surface.
We both looked at each other said its the albino seal at the same time and then we quickly told our guests about this beautiful mammal.

This was 3 years on the trot and it still amazes me that it has not past away, as I was always under the impression that albino's struggle to survive as they either get bullied or just pushed to one side, but this fella seemed to be very relaxed with all the other seals. In fact it was really relaxed with the boat too and I have to say that this was the first time that it came close to the boat with not a worry at all and gave myself and a few others great opportunities to get some good pictures.

If I don't see it again this year then I pray I will see it again next year and in the meantime I hope to find out as much as I can about the wonderful mammal.

Pupping season begins

Today we not only saw the 1st seal pup on the rocks but we also spotted a 2nd one.

Finally the seal season is underway and lets hope it's another good one like last year.
A few weeks ago my brother spotted one on the Longstone Island but unfortunately it had pasted away, which was such a crying shame as it looked big too and the weather had not been bad at all but I suppose that's nature for you. 

Anyway the ones we saw today looked in better health and one was even feeding from its mother and the other looked a good bit bigger so it must be a good few days old.

Exciting times are now ahead of us and I love seeing the pups as they are really cute so lets hope they all go up and live long and healthy lives.

It will not be long before they are playing with the divers and showing off to our guests on board Serenity.

We also have been spotting a good few tags this year but once again they are not the best and the numbers rub off which is really annoying. Never mind we still have got a few. Andy my crewman spotted this one today which was a great spot too.

A few of last years pups were enjoying the little bit of sunshine too. These little fella's are about 10/11 months old now and enjoying life to its fullest. 

Once again thank you for reading this blog 

OVER AND OUT

Love is.........

Love is......

A female grey seal never leaving dead partners side.....

The look from a female grey seal broke my heart the other day, as she lay beside her man while he lay dead.
It might not have been her man and it might have just been coincidence that she was lying there but for me it felt like her man.
When she turned her head and looked across at the boat as if to say "bugger off and leave me alone" it was enough to put a tear into my eye. Ever since I lost my dog "Bud" my loyal northumberland collie, things like this make me really sad.
I did not really want to blog something like this but "Andy" my crewman said I had to as he felt the same when he lost his dog last year. Bloody dogs...

It is really sad to see and I know its nature and everything has to die eventually but it never gets any easier, but if there is one thing I can take from this is that the bull (man) dead from natural causes. Well that's what I'm telling myself anyway.

 

Newborn Seal Pups

The grey seal pups are starting to arrive in abundance now, and at the last count their was 526
but over the last four days we have had dreadful seas with big waves and we have not been able to get out so fingers crossed the seals and their pups have managed to survive this weather.

I suppose its nature and over the last few years the seals have had it good and the numbers have increased a lot.

The rangers have started their counts and when you look at the rocks its all multi colored now. We also have spotted some new born pups with their umbilical cords still on.

 We also spotted a branded seal with a large V branded on her back. They stopped branding in 1995 but I'm not sure how old this one is but I will find out in due course.

We saw young born pups calling for their mothers as they were really hungry and others who had fallen into the water and their mothers were encouraging them to get out. We saw a young pup enjoying her mothers milk and other so tired it was not bothered where it slept.
We even saw the start of new life being created.

Over all my fingers and toes are crossed that all is well out on the Farnes and all the seal pups are doing just fine.
 

Mixed Easter so far.

It's been a mixed Easter so far, with all kinds of weather. Wind, Rain, Calm Sea's, Rough Sea's, Sunny and Overcast.
To be honest Easter was far to early and our seabirds are just not ready to settle just yet. In my last blog I said the the Puffins were back, but the second I said that, they disappeared again.
Since Good Friday there has not been any Puffins, Guillemots or Razorbills around the islands. It's like they knew the weather was going to change, so they decided to leave and come back when the weather is better. This is not uncommon as its tends to happen every year but because easter is quick this year people seem to think that everything should be here, but sorry this is not the case.

Never mind, we were treated to a good show of Bottlenose Dolphins for two days on the trot which kept our very cold guests smiling.
We have seen a single Greylag Goose knocking around the islands for a few days now and there still is a few Purple Sandpipers hanging on too. The Sandwich Terns are starting to arrive too and numbers are building up daily.
We also saw a female seal a wee bit bloody. I don't know what happened but there was lots a blood and it looks like her nostril is a little bit torn and maybe that's why there is so much blood around. She does not seem to be bothered about it, as my mam would say "its a scratch, get on with it".

Anyway, fingers crossed in the next few days everything will change and all our seabirds will be back and the islands will be buzzing again.

Here is a few pictures for you all.