This is an image of a Common Seal,
they are the smaller of the two UK seal species. Common seals
are also known as harbour seals, despite being called
"Common", they are actually less common than grey seals!
When not at sea, common seals are
found around sheltered shores and estuaries, where they haul
out on sandbanks and beaches. When out of the water, they
sometimes hold their body in a curved banana position, with
their head and tail both in the air at the same time. Like
grey seals, they feed on fish, but also eat squid, whelks,
crabs and mussels. Common seal pups are born during the summer
and can swim when they are only a few hours old!
I used to work away in Essex a lot
and during my downtime there I got to know the local wildlife
very well. I would often walk along the beach close to
Southend-on-sea and look out for photographic opportunities.
This picture of the Common Seal was taken off the end of the
long pier there. I took the train to the end of the pier
mainly to visit the lifeboat station and to have a look
around, I did not expect to see any large mammals there! There
were several seals floating by the edge of the pier, they
seemed very curious as to what we were all doing up there. |