The 4 S's: Sun, Sea, Sand and Seals
You could have knocked me down with a feather when someone casually mentioned 'visiting the seals'. They went on to explain about the local seal colony right on my doorstep.
The beach itself was fabulous with lovely dunes and at that time we visited not another soul in sight. As I turned the corner my eyes didn't understand what they were seeing. At first I thought it was an army of seagulls but as I moved closer I realised these were the seals. I don't know what I expected a colony to look like but it wasn't this. I moved a bit closer ensuring I stayed on the south side so as not to disturb them I marvelled at how many there were all basking in the sun and generally just chillin’.
I stood and watched, listening to their grunts and calls was memorising and then, out of the corner of my eye, a movement in the water, I turned my head, nothing just water. Another movement, I turned quicker but just a ripple to be seen. I sat on the pristine sand and a head appeared out of the water with those big soulful eyes, glistening skin and the most adorable whiskas, I blinked he was gone, blinked again, pop he was back. This continued for a while disappearing, popping out in a new spot. Like playing peek-a-boo.
I grabbed my phone to try and capture this playful creature and whilst fumbling around looked back and 2 little heads were bobbing up looking at me. I clicked but didn’t manage to get the photo. Was what I thought was one seal playing with me actually two, or had the other seal come to join in the game? I will never know but it was great fun.
I watched them for hours, tried to paint them (en plein air) but the wind had picked up and sand is not conducive to watercolouring so I started to pack up and make my way back to the car, windswept and feeling content and connected.
This first visit inspired my 'moonlight seal' painting and I have been back numerous times with friends and family to visit these wonderful creatures.
These links provide advise on how to be respectful and a bit more information about the colony.
https://www.nature.scot/watching-ythan-seals-without-disturbing-them
https://www.visitabdn.com/listing/newburgh-beach
Do you have any seal stories, leave me a comment and let me know.
