Winterton Wanderers

 Saturday December 3

When we visit Winterton Beach car park, it's always with the intention of looking for sea birds.Last week, both the sea and the sand was empty of any wildlife, just the inevitable dogs and their owners in sight. This week, winter opening times were in force, when on certain days,  the owners allow the Coastguards to man the gate, asking for volunteer contributions instead of the set parking fees. This is very good of them. Money thrown into the bucket, we drove to the far end before parking.

 Nowhere else in Norfolk is it possible to watch Atlantic Grey Seals pupping from the comfort of the car. The extensive area of sand to the north had about a hundred seals scattered around the edge. This started as an overflow from Horsey further north, where over two thousand pups were born last year.

 


They pup from late November until the end of January. The coastguard told us that there were no pups as yet, we saw two at least, their white fur standing out.

 


The white fur is not waterproof. They remain on the beach for about three weeks, the mothers departing to feed themselves, returning periodically so that the pups can gorge on their very rich milk. During this time, the bulls also return looking to mate, producing the following season's progeny. Pups are often in danger then, crushed, or otherwise injured, by the testosterone fuelled bulls.. After three weeks, the youngsters' fur is waterproof and dark and they have no choice but to enter the sea to feed, their mothers having abandoned them.

Doubtless, we shall return when the season is in full flow.

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