UK wildlife – See Wildlife

The Storks of Knepp

Mar 12, 2025Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

First visit of the year now that the freezing weather has abated and there was a smidgen of sun. The stork’s are back and nesting already.

There is now such a density of storks around the estate that you can not miss them even if you aren’t looking for them, with 2 or 3 nests in a single tree. Their rhythmic clacking is also very noticeable.

Obviously, storks aren’t the only treasures on the estate and you’re almost guaranteed to see something on a visit and this time we were treated with seeing a couple of fallow deer and a kestrel .

Annual pilgrimage for Norfolk Seals

Dec 28, 2024Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

So it’s twixtmas, that means it’s time for the crazy , traffic riddled journey up to North Norfolk to see the baby grey seals again.

First up this week is the lovely walk along Waxham Beach, taking great care not to get too close to any seals who have nestled themselves between the rocks. There was also a little group of turnstones playing around on the rocks.

Saw one or two pups left on their own as we walked along, before coming across a colony of a hundred or so adults, juveniles and pups. Always so lovely to see and, this year in particular, it seems all walkers were being very respectful and keeping a big distance between themselves and the seals,, which has not always been the case when we’ve been here.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay long as both kids decided to get themselves play in huge puddles and their waterproofs weren’t designed for taking a swim

Camping on Brownsea Island

Sep 2, 2024Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

We have been to Brownsea many times day trips. It’s an amazing place, but the amout of time there is limited by the times of the boats.

You can not miss the last 5pm boat!

This time, we were going to be spending 4 days and 3 nights on the island! We’d get the chance to see and do things we had never gotten round to before, like spend lots of time in the Dorset Wildlife Trust wetlands and explore the extreme western end of the island, near the old Pottery Pier.

We camped at the same site where Robert Baden Powell held his first expermimental camp there in 1907 and there were scout groups visiting there at the same time as us.

I took advantage of the low light pollution and cleat skies on one night to have a stab at taking some photos of the Milky Way, something I had never attempted before. I had some success and can’t wait to have another go some time.

There are a number of hides and a visitor centre (with a new observatory in the process of being built) in the Dorset Wildlife Trust section of Brownsea Island. They’re free to visit, but you can make a donation (cash or contactless) if you wish to help the cause, and you really should because they are fantastic. We spent time in each hide, but with a 3 year old and a 5 year old who do not like staying quiet, we moved on to avoid disturbing too many people. There were lots of spoonbills on site that day, along with avocets, terns and a whole host of coastal and wading birds.

Brownsea is rather famous for its red squirrel population and quite rightly so, with approximately 250 living on the island. We saw the squirrels often whilst walking round the island, but the eaisest place to sport them is behind the church, it seems people leave nuts out for them, which I’m not sure of the ethics of.

Brownsea is also home to a small population of Sika deer. They are really habitualised to people and they seem to have no fight or flight instincts! We stayed and watched them for about 30 mins and even joggers and mini 4-wheel-drive vehicles did not scare them off.

Seals, Squirels, Birds and more – The Scilly Isles

Aug 21, 2024Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

An action packed 2 weeks on the Scilly Isles! These must be the remote part of the British Isles, a 3 hour ferry ride from Cornwall, but it really is a wothwhile trip. It is also quite and expensive place to visit, both for accomodation and sustenance (I challenge to find a coffee for less than £4!)., but there is an abundance of wildife to see.

The islands are a haven for a plethora of bird species, along with grey seals, dolphins and other cetaceans. We took the plunge on a snorkeling with seals trip and a rock pool safari, both of which are highly recommended and great for anyone who wants to get up close and personal with nature.

Staying on the largest of the isles, St Mary’s, we spent many days also taking boats over to the other islands, including St Martins, St Agnes, Tresco, Bryher and even a rare visit to Samson. Each has their own charms and wonders. If you go, please limit yourself to visiting just one island.

Having visited in late July, we were lucky enough to see the last of the puffins, before they departed for colder climates. We saw them on day 3 of the trip, there were no more after that.

It’s that time of year again – seal pups in Norfolk

Dec 20, 2020Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

It’s December, so that means it was time for our annual pilgrimage to North Norfolk to see the grey seals and their pups at Blakeney Point, Horsey Gap and, now Winterton. Like everyone else, we’ve not traveled as much as usual this year (i wonder why? ;-)), but we couldn’t miss this trip.

Braving the cold, but thankfully no pouring rain or winds this year, we started with the boat trip out to Blakeney Point from Morston Quay with Temples Seal Trips (we’ve also been with Beans Boats a few times and they’re also recommended). Unfortunately this year we weren’t able to book one of the trips where we could land on the point and walk around, but being on the boat gives a different experience and almost as good viewing, with hundreds of seals on the beaches and floating in the sea, keeping a wary eye on us visitors.

After a cosy night in Blakeney, we traveled on to Horsey Gap for seals experience number 2! No boats needed at Horsey, just park up (pay for your parking ticket) and wander a few yards along the path, up and on to the dunes and you’re presented with a beach load of seals. The Friends of Horsey Seals do a wonderful job manning the car park, setting up the paths and keeping a watchful eye on seals and visitors to ensure that the seals not disturbed and can come back every year to their birthing and nursing grounds.

Another part of our Horsey tradition is lunch at Poppylands, the WWII themed cafe just a across the road from the access road to Horsey Gap and in spite of it being very busy (always a sign that you’ve selected the right lunch spot) we got a table and had a delicious lunch.

Finally, we made our way to Winterton for our third seal watch of the trip. Its a bit of a walk from the car park to the beach access point, but once there, the seals are in abundance. This year, it was best to stay up on the dunes to see the seals, but normally you can get down to the beach and see them at eye level (if you lie down).

We’ll definitely be back again in 2021, lockdowns permitting!

Lock Down Wildlife Walks – Peregrine Falcons, Kestrels and Skylarks in London!

Apr 21, 2020Dec 20, 2020Eric James Loh

Peregrine Falcons and Kestrels! Within sight of the London Shard!

Roundshaw Downs, on the site of the former Croydon Airport, is now an almost natural grassy chalkland habitat. With the A217 forming one border of the site and the towers of Croydon, the IKEA chimneys and the Shard all in view, it feels both an urban and a rural setting at the same time. As you entire the site, there are information boards telling you about the habitat and that there are skylarks and a pair of kestrels resident, however there was nothing about Peregrine’s there. I’ve lived here for about 5 years now and, although I’ve visited a few times, had never seen either…until the lock down that is.

In these times strange times of being unable to travel to see wildlife and having just one daily form of exercise, we feel really lucky to have this local nature reserve pretty much on our back doorstep.

A blue tit

Forget-me-knots

Long tailed tit

Our daily walks with our 12 month old Benjamin, have become a regular wildlife-spotting adventure. The first thing that strikes you upon entering the Roundshaw Downs, is the sound of bird calls all around you, with the song of the skylark an almost constant backdrop, along with blackbirds, blue tits and Starlings Although you can hear the skylarks everywhere, they do seem to be hard to spot, hiding in the long grass, but we’ve been lucky to spot a couple.

Second is that it is good to see that the Downs are absolutely full of pollinators, with honeybees and bumblebees seemingly everywhere, attracted by the abundance of wildflowers including forget-me-knots and carpets of bluebells in the shade of the trees.

Bluebells

Male kestrel

Starling

However, the most exciting thing for me is finally seeing kestrels, or more specifically a male (one of a mating pair, I assume) which we see 2 or 3 times a week now, letting us get a good idea of his favourite perches and hunting grounds. Kestrels, with their hovering behaviour whilst hunting, are probably my favourite bird, so to know that we have a pair just around the corner from home feels comforting and our lock down walk is always the highlight of the day.

Note: All photos have been taken handheld with only a 70-300 mm lens and with a 12 month old strapped to me, which presents its own challenges, both in terms of the time you have to take a shot and being able to get in the best position!

Its seal time again – Harwich / Walton-on-the-Naze

Nov 1, 2019Dec 20, 2020Eric James Loh

Autumn has been a season of seal watching so far and last weekend was no different. It was also another new location for us, taking a boat from the port of Harwich in Essex with Sealwatching.co.uk.

Sealwatching.co.uk boat

A few godwits on the way to see the seals, Harwich

Little Egret, Harwich

First few common seals, Harwich

Common seal gang chilling, Harwich

The boat left from the quay at Harwich Dock and motored out through the port, past the huge shipping container port and along the much more pleasant beach at Dovercourt for about 45 minutes until reaching Hamford Water Nature Reserve. It was there that we found the seals. First just one or two in the water, then a couple more basking on the banks, until we spotted another group of about 50 hauled up ahead. As we approached, they spooked and started launching themselves into the water, making quite a splash as they went.

Hen Harrier, Harwich

Common seals, Harwich

Common seal, Harwich

It was interesting to see a few of them skipping along, jumping in and out of the water like dolphins playing. The boat hung around for a while as we watched the seals (and i’m sure a hen harrier way off in the distance), before we headed back, this time with the tide, to be back at the dock within 30 minutes.

It was a very pleasant way to spend two hours and the crew took good care of us, providing binoculars if needed and a running commentary of the sites along the way and a history of the local landmarks.

Common seal, Harwich

Lighthouses, Dovercourt

Gulls, Dovercourt

Red fox, Hanningford Reservoir

Common seals, Harwich

Before heading home, we stopped off at Essex Wildlife Trust’s Hanningford Resevoir for a quick trundle along their Wind In the Willows inspired nature walk, coffee, cake and dropping in and our of a couple of their hides for a quick peak.

Seals from Burnham-on-Crouch…sorry it’s late part 2

Oct 24, 2019Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

Those very few of you who may follow this blog will have seen that we go to Burnham-on-Crouch quite often to see the seals and back in mid-September my wife and i went again, this time with baby Benjamin!

Little Egret strutting at Burnham-on-Crouch

Seal snout

Common Seal Burnham-on-Crouch

This time, it was just a day trip, but we did go again with Discovery Charters and met up again with our friend Noodles the dog.

It was another great day of seal watching, but also some pleasant sightings of water birds. I swear every time we go that the number of birds is increasing massively. The great work that the RSPB has done as Wallasea Island has not only created a great habitat for the returning birds, but has also helped to de-silt the river Crouch.

I won’t take too much time with words here, but just let the photos do the talking!

Common Seal Burnham-on-Crouch

Curlew

Seals from Chichester Harbour…sorry its a bit late part 1

Oct 24, 2019Oct 24, 2019Eric James Loh

A few months back my wife found out about another colony of seals (grey and common) within easy distance of home, with trips running out of Chichester Harbour. So back in early September we drove down and went on a boat trip with Chichester Harbour Water Tours (other operators are also available).

The habour itself is a good 15 minute drive away from Chichester (taking traffic in to consideration) so if you’re in Chichester for a look, give yourself plenty of time to get there – which we did not and had to rush!

Godwit in Chichester Harbour

Little Egret in Chichester Harbour

Sail boats in Chichester Harbour

Chichester Harbour

…relax. Chichester Harbour seal

The area around the harbour is a good place for walks and there’s a nice cafe also.

The trip from the harbour to where the seals can be seen is lovely with sailing boats, sailing clubs and waterbirds to spot along the way and once there we had great views of the seals in the water and on the sand banks. It was certainly worth the drive down and the rush!

Common Seal, Chichester Harbour

Inverness and the Moray Firth

Aug 19, 2019Mar 13, 2025Eric James Loh

So, a flying visit…literally.

An Easyjet flight up to Inverness on a Friday night, 2 nights in Nairn and a flight back to Gatwick on Sunday evening, all with a 4 month-old baby? Sounds crazy, but we had heard about the Scottish Dolphin Centre a while back, where you can potentially see bottle-nosed dophins from the shore and decided we had to go.

The Scottish Dolphin Centre is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) charity, through which Heather has adopted one of the dolphins, Spirit. It sits on the mouth of the River Spey in a former salmon fishing station. We started the day with a tour of the ice house where, as the name implies, was used to store ice for preserving the salmon back in the day. The ice house is now used for exhibitions and “dry dives”, where videos of underwater wildlife is shown. After a nice lunch in the centre, we went on a guided wildlife walk (2.15pm, April 1st to October 31st) with Adam, one of the guides.

Mouth of the River Spey

What’s spooked those birds?

This osprey!

Osprey

The walk, started with some time looking for dolphins from the centre, but alas with no luck, so we headed along the river spotting huge number so gulls and other seabirds. Soon after something spooked them and sure enough 2 osprey appeared from up river. We trekked along the river looking for otters, but again nothing this time. After the tour, Heather and I went further down the river and crossed the old railway bridge, now converted to be part of the national cycle network and as we crossed, another osprey came over head.

View from Burghead Visitor Centre

Another view from Burghead Visitor Centre

After the Dolphin centre, we drove to a few other places along the firth where there is supposed to be good chances of seeing more wildlife, Portgordon for seals, Burghead (dolphins from the Burghead Visitor Centre – a former coastguard lookout) and Hopeman East Beach (dolphins again), but had no more luck. That was the enough for day one, so head back to our apartment in Nairn for dinner and good nights sleep.

Sunday morning, we drove down to the Clansman’s Harbour for a boat trip on Loch Ness with Jacobite cruises. We just did a short trip from the harbour to Urquhart Castle and back, but it was enough to get a good feel for the Loch and to hear all the stories about the fabled monster. We had some time to kill following the cruise so we drove a few miles down the road to the Loch Ness Centre for an immersive exhibition about the monster and all the attempts down the years to prove whether or not it really exists. Let’s just say, it is unlikely!

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

A grey seal in the Inner Moray

A cormorant drying out on the Inner Moray Firth

A common tern on the Inner Moray Firth

Our last activity for the weekend was a wildlife cruise with Dolphin Spirit from Inverness Marina. Dolphin Spirit offer two tours, one on the Dolphin Spirit which is more sedate and another on Dolphin Mischief, a RIB, for the more adventurous. With our little one, we were on the Dolphin Spirit this time around, but otherwise we would probable have taken the RIB. It was a nice trip, no dolphins again, but we saw some grey seals, some cormorants and a common tern.

It was a great weekend, with beautiful coastlines and countryside, lovely people, nice food and some nice wildlife spotting, but no dolphins this time round. However, it was enough to make us want to go back, for a week at least next time!