Horsey Gap Seals
I happened to whinge to a good photography friend of mine that I hadn’t seen much furry wildlife, I’d been photographing lots of birds and butterflies. He had an idea and took me on a wonderful trip to Horsey gap and the wild seals that call that beach their home.
On the Norfolk coast its nearly 3 hrs drive from home, so a fairly early start. Before we hit the beach we stopped at a café, called Poppylands. Cross over the threshold and step back in time to the 1940’s. The room is stuffed with bunting and 1940’s memorabilia. Tea is served in period Woods Ware Beryl Green china, with tea pots that are kept hot with crocheted figures by staff dressed in land girl clothing. The whole place brings a smile to your face.
Fully refreshed and we drive a little further before parking. I am not very familiar with this coastline and the big sand dunes completely hide the beach. They are marvelous with fields of wild grasses growing on the fragile sand. They take some climbing too, although there is a path up and along the top it is on sand and is a little unstable underfoot especially for a klutz like me carrying two cameras. When you climb over them then the sight of all the seals takes your breath away. You don’t quite believe your eyes at first as they lie on the water’s edge as far as the eye can see.
The seals are curious and we maintain our distance, we have long lenses so can zoom in without getting close to them. We think that these are this year’s pups that have been weaned and looks are just getting ready to head out in the big wide world. It looks like there are shedding their puppy fur too which seems to be a very itchy process. Those that are not sleeping are wriggling and scratching and occasionally rubbing up against an amenable neighbour.
They snooze in big piles of pale spotted bodies and the occasional seal would curiously lift its head from the herd to watch us with their beautiful, very dog like, dark liquid intelligent eyes.
Some seals that are clearly just enjoying the water and are body surfing through the waves. Wobbling out into the shallows again and again to get the ride back. A couple of seals practice fighting in the surf, it doesn’t look too serious just now, but you can see that they are testing and learning the opponent’s weakness for future reference.
Most of the seals are of a similar size and weight, but there are clearly a few smaller ones. Sadly, there was even one that had not made it. A sight made all the more gruesome by the gulls that wander through the herd of seals, picking at the little body.
There were, unfortunately, people with dogs and mobile phones going right up to them, clearly making them uncomfortable. It is important that you remember that these are wild animals and give them the respect that they are due. We both had long lenses and were able to be right back at the dunes and photograph them from there.
It was a wonderful encounter, interesting and beautiful animals where ever we looked. The seals were wonderful to watch even when we weren’t photographing them and we were there for hours walking up and down the coast.
