Seal inspiration
Beach births
The seals group together in mass gatherings are known as rookeries made up of both local seals and others that have travelled from further afield. It's not safe to venture too close to them since the presence of humans can mean the female seals are too afraid to come right up to the beach and instead give birth on sand banks miles from the shoreline. Thankfully I have a good lens and was able to photograph them at a safe distance. The risk is serious. Tragically, days before I visited this beach, a freak high tide, two and a half metres higher than usual, washed some pups born out on a sandbank out to see.
Seals ashore
As they lie on the sand, the seals look like large beached sausages. But you only have to stop and wait for a moment to see them interacting. As I watched, a cub rolled playfully beside its mother. Its large dark glossy eyes and luxurious white coat were so appealing. Then it called out with a mournful sigh and I was smitten.
New born seal pups
And older, playful pups
At just three weeks old, the pup's soft, downy white coat moults and is replaced with a sleek mottled grey pelage. They also become more adventurous and fun. I watched one blowing bubbles and splashing in pools on the shoreline. I photographed another which I could have sworn was laughing. Its dog-like mouth opened wide in an engaging smile. Another rolled over and waved a shiny flipper at me. At last I was getting what I needed to make my painting come alive.
Parents begin again
At five weeks old, hunger and instinct forces these pups out to sea to begin hunting for themselves. Interestingly, this is also the time when the adults mate. It hardly seems fair on the female, who, after three weeks of feeding her pup and not feeding at all herself, has often lost a considerable amount of weight. Nevertheless she becomes receptive to mating and the beach quickly turns from caring nursery to brutal mating platform.
Mating is brutal
I watched as aggressive males staked their claims over the females. The largest of the bulls are known as beachmasters. They herded the females up into harems of up to 10 and began posturing like heavyweight champions. One that I saw was covered in bloody battle scars from a previous battle. He growled threateningly at any rivals that dared approach. This is a dangerous time for the pups since they can easily get crushed as fights break out. After mating the female can at last have a break and she goes out to sea to feed up before the worst of winter. Delayed implantation, which means that the female holds fertilised eggs in her uterus in a suspended state of development, ensures that her pups are not born until the following autumn. Watching the youngest of the seals roll playfully on the sand, I felt a pang of concern for them knowing that in just a few weeks they would have to brave the cold North Sea on their own.
