Grey seals, courtship and mating. Cornwall, November 2025

 Having spent 2 and a half hours counting, photographing and generally monitoring the Grey seals we were just finishing recording all the data for the Seal Research Trust when I noticed a boat offshore with people looking our way in a manner that made me think ..."something's up"!

A quick dash to the cliff overlook and I saw what they were peering at... there was a pair of seals showing really well and in courtship mode.

Fortunately for me and my camera the light was behind me and the seals were looking amazing. 

I was in a field above the cliffs at quite a distance from them and I was using a Nikon mirrorless camera on silent shutter with a 500mm lens and well aware not to disturb them. 

A few times one of them would glance my way but they were more interested in each other.

They stayed in the same area from 15:39 hrs when I first saw them until 16:20 hrs when another courting pair swam amongst them and the males checked each other out.

I took many photos so here is a small section of them.... still lots!

 

St.George's Island at Looe on Sunday 10th August 25 with the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust.

 A warm welcome was received from Jon and Claire on our arrival at the jetty of Looe island for our monthly seal survey.

The weather was amazing and for most of the day the sea was like a mirror and we watched Gannets diving almost as far as the eye could see, although heat haze did affect lots of our distant images.

Being an August Sunday we expected quite a bit of human disturbance to the seals as the calm sea state was an open invitation to boats, jet ski's, kayaks and SUP's.  Fortunately it wasn't as bad as expected and most of the boats and kayaks kept a suitable distance from the hauled out seals as they used the low tide to digest their food. A few jet-ski's stayed off the area until they left in a lot of noise and sea spray!

Jet ski close to seal haul out.

 

 

We had some good birds including a lone Kingfisher, a few Med Gulls, Whimbrel, Oystercatchers,Little Egrets, a Kestrel, numerous GBB Gulls and Herring Gulls, distant Gannets, diving Sandwich Terns, Shags and Cormorants.

 

A distant Kestrel

Cormorants

Little Egret

 

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Fulmar chick

 

A few general views of the island....

From the jetty

The old generator shed

Tractor shed welcome

the tractor in situ

The beach looking toward Looe

 

 

Butterflies were also aplenty on this sunny day with Painted Lady, Wall Brown, Whites, Red Admiral & Speckled Wood all showing.

Painted Lady on Red Valerian

Red Admiral on an apple

Red Admiral on an apple

Speckled Wood on same apple

 

To conclude our day on the island 2 young seals played in the fast rising tide by the jetty putting on our final entertainment of the day!

 

Grey Seal

Grey Seal

 

Another truly splendid day on the Cornwall Wildlife Trust flagship island reserve.

Thanks Jon and Claire for your hospitality! See you next month!