Welcome visitor I think?

[ianfr]

There I was in Tollesbury north channel, rafted up with some other boats. 06:00 Sunday. I was woken by a load thump and the boat lurched. Rolling out of the quarter berth, looked out and came face to face with a seal! I am not sure which of us was more surprised! The seal beat a hasty retreat while I was rummaging round for a camera. The seal then went a couple of boats down and went and sat in an inflatable for a few moments then disappeared with a splash.

Absolutely Brilliant!!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[johnalison]

It probably was surprised - I don't supposed you'd even had a shave. A couple of years ago in Hamford Water I watched about eight seals drift past and noticed that they formed a semicircle facing the shore and during the next quarter-hour closed the gap, presumably round a shoal of mullet. Unfortunately the light went before I could see the denouement.

 

[tillergirl]

Probably the same one thats been in West Mersea for the last two weeks. Spends a lot of time off the hammerhead watching the kids crab fishing. You get the uneasy feeling that the seal thinks its watching exhibits at a zoo!

Porpoises spotted in the Blackwater on Monday again.

 

[ianfr]

I also meant to say that my boat is a Silhouette which is 17ft 3" long and the seal was sitting quite happily in the cockpit. As I looked out of the hatch it was no more that 2 - 3 ft away. Amazing to be so close to a wild animal. I suspect I may anchor up there more often now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Pumpkin]

I visited North Channel last weekend. It's difficult to find isn't it? I managed to end up the south side of Great Cob Island and had to double back to the last red buoy before finding the right water right next to Old Hall Marshes. It's a lovely anchorage though. After sunset I came out on deck to find the water full of phosphorescence. I've never seen anything like it. Everytime I disturbed the water it exploded into dancing liquid lights. Wonderful but a bit spooky. Later that night a floating pleasure palace-like motor cruiser appeared in the distance, lit up like a Christmas tree with searchlights playing all over the place obviously trying to find the South Channel and Tollesbury Marina. The speed it was going, I hate to think of the wash it would make, disturbing anyone moored in South Channel. I felt quite smug and snug tucked away from all that ostentatious display of speed and wealth.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Wonderful... that would have absolutely made my year!

Over the weekend there was a seal watching the Saturday start at Burnham week.... i'm used to seeing fleeting glimpses of these fascinating and lovely creatures, or at a distance as they sunbathe on the sands, but this one had stuck his head up to watch the boats fail to make way against the tide in the light winds, and proceeded to watch us all for a good long while with a look of amusement on its face....

Maybe he'd finished his crabbing study project and had moved on to advanced study of human patience failure....

 

[CPD]

The main thing I miss about not being on the Crouch is seeing the seals laze about on the sandbanks at the entrance at low water. It reminds you its their water, not ours.