Seeking Seals

As you travel the North Norfolk coast road you may notice the village of Morston, or you may miss it entirely; it's not a very extensive place. On one of the flint-built cottages is a sign, Beans Boat Trips - Seals & Birds. A good place to start.

It's best to book your trip a day or two before as times vary according to the tides. If you get there a bit early you could have a look at the church with its rather odd tower which was repaired after being struck by lightning.

Parts of the village are still "Norfolk-like-what-that-used-to-be", having so far escaped the gentrification which has accompanied the increased tourist trade.

But you'll soon find yourself down by the Quay, observing the different vessels that line the inlet, and searching for a person in a bright orange jumper who is in charge of Beans Boats.

It's but a short voyage across to Blakeney Point, the long shingle spit on which the seals haul out of the water. As you can see the boats get quite close to the basking seals who are not in the least bit concerned by this intrusion.

It's sometimes difficult to decide who's watching who!

The only boats that really bother the seals are canoes or kayaks. Instinct tells them that something so low in the water and silent must be some kind of predator and they become agitated.

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There's also a nesting colony of Terns on the spit - Common Terns, Sandwich Terns, Little Terns and a few Arctic Terns. In fact it was the birds that first attracted the attention of Charles Rothschild who bought Blakeney Point and made it into a nature reserve.

Most of the seals present at this time of year are Common Seals, which are known as Harbour Seals elsewhere in the world. During the winter months there are far more Atlantic Grey Seals.

They spend an awful lot of their time just lying about on the sand during the summer months - rather like the human visitors at the seaside. In theory you can get to Blakeney Point by walking but it either involves a long trudge along the shifting shingle, or a paddle across the estuary at low tide, but a boat trip is much more fun and gets you closer to the seals.

There was time for a brief landing on the point for a stroll down to the lifeboat station. On the right is the old lifeboat house, while its replacement can be seen on the left. Neither is in use any more as the growth of the spit has left them high and dry. It's now home to the wardens who care for the nature reserve.

There are also a few shacks scattered among the dunes. These were built as holiday homes in the days before planning restrictions, but are now used as field study centres by universities. That's an Oystercatcher, posing in the foreground.

Then it was time to say goodbye. I'll be back to see you again some day.

Take care.