Since 2015, The Wildlife Trusts | The Wildlife Trusts have been promoting nature appreciation with a programme running over thirty days in the month of June. My first time attempting some nature-based education and fun began last year but sadly I didn’t get to complete the entire event for various reasons.
This blog aims to share the fun of the first ten days of June, 2022, for 30 Days Wild here around Whaligoe Steps on the north easterly coastline of Scotland. The plan is to share the following twenty days over two more blogs. Wish me luck!
DAY 1: WILD BREAKFAST
Top of Whaligoe Steps, June 1st, 2022…
DAY 2: FAMILY OF SHAGS (PHALACROCORAX ARISTOTELIS)
Shallow cave on pebble shore…Plastic pollution removed from pebble shore…
DAY 9: SOWING WILDLIFE TRUST WILDFLOWER SEEDS!
Sachet of Wildlife Trust seeds…Large pot prepared & watered…
DAY 10: BUTTERFLY WATCH
Tortoise shell I think (?)Cabbage white
Thank you as always for dropping by during these busy times we live in, and I hope you found some of these images to be enjoyable. There are twenty days to go, so the idea is to split those up into two more blogs each covering ten days of capture and content. Keep your fingers crossed.
Here in the Highlands of Scotland we are blessed with some majestic views, vibrant wildlife, and a hardened lifestyle dwelling within Mother Nature’s ever-changing frame. This website was a springboard to bring attention to the precarious and evidently inadequate infrastructure at Whaligoe Steps, which at the time of this blog entry still exists sadly. But as the months roll by, this humble website has become something more.
I am constantly humbled by not only the feedback from individuals who visit the website, but also the steep learning curve of learning. With an abundance of wildlife on my doorstep so to speak, I am consistently digesting new-to-me information about the various species which consider the environment their home.
Check out the “Nature” section of this website if you get a spare moment: Nature – Whaligoe Eye
Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
In previous blog posts, I have been bouncing with joy over the many sightings of grey seals. Since the start of August, one seal was spotted. Then two seals. Finally my over-zealous excitement burst with the most heart-warming enthusiasm when a third seal was sighted in the waters of the north sea here.
During the many regular treks down Whaligoe Steps it became apparent that one of the grey seals was huge! Unnervingly so as it happens. Whispers amongst those who knew of this were suspecting a pregnancy. After some rapid research, the time of year being October of 2021, it all felt like something special was going to unfold.
Pair of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)
On the 10th of December, I found myself melancholy at the state of the nearest pebble shore at Whaligoe Steps. The previous nights had seen storms of significant power batter the coastline, and with such weather arrived a collection of plastic-related pollution, plus some heavy timber. One item caught my eye. It looked to be a white plastic bag or flimsy container which moved. There was a breeze, so it was totally plausible.
One of my first photos of the pebble shore baby
On closer inspection, I discovered the white object was in fact a living, breathing grey seal pup! As I share this with you, I cannot articulate sufficiently what this meant to me. My instinctive panic to what may befall such a beautiful example of Mother Nature if visitors from afar were to unintentionally harm or alarm it, or in cases I have seen via articles on seal clubbing or abuse to such native coastline wildlife which was intentional and thoughtless, took hold of my thoughts.
Grey seal pup working out how to manoeuvre over and around the immediate landscape
Due to the significant levels of visitors which travel here these days, and despite the crisp cold air of December where once upon a time local people would not see anyone, there are still people who frequent this area. I became almost maternal in my protective ways, and those residents who knew of its existence also adopted an unspoken veil of secrecy regarding the arrival of this pebble shore baby.
My first video clip, filmed on the 14th of December, 2021
I checked out the RSPCA website and even tried to phone them as I was caught up in my woes for the safety of such a wild, yet young grey seal: Seal Pup Found Alone | RSPCA
Apparently after further reading, the Mum nurtures and brings up the newly born pup for about a month before setting it free on a nearby beach or shoreline. The seal pup will then be at the mercy of its own instincts and the environment in which it evolves for about two weeks or so. During this time the seal pup is learning about the relationship with the sea, food and protein, and everything else you can imagine when a living species enters its habitat.
The pup exploring a nearby rock pool
There were days when the seal pup would do very little in the way of movement as it conserved energy. It gave off a serene ambience whilst absorbing all around with those beautiful large dark orbs. In the video clips above you may note how the fur is beginning to change. Within the thirteen days I was gifted the opportunity of monitoring and observing it, the physical changes which transpired were remarkable.
Chomping on some seaweed
I mentioned the plastic pollution that washed up around the same time the grey seal pup made its grand entrance on the pebble shore. The photograph below was taken during an impressive clearance of the larger and potentially more hazardous items which were briefly in close proximity to the pup.
I cleared away the plastic pollution which I was concerned might harm the pup
I will share with you some more of my personal experience with this adorable example of the wildlife which graces the shores here in the United Kingdom. Be patient with me as I need to forage amongst my documented footage and photographs to find out which ones are the finest, and then treat them so they are appropriate to be uploaded. Part 2 will be posted in the next day or so as I juggle the Festive period and all that comes with such traditions.
Showing off a carpet of fur as it moulted profusely
