This year

Welcome to Cwmtydu-Bay-Wildlife

Guidelines to help prevent disturbance to the seals

Early September saw calm seas and fine sunny weather. On a Saturday afternoon we observed a lot of activity from one of the female seals near an entrance to a sea cave. This signalled a birth of a pup.

As the sea was clam and the tides were receding there was no reason for the mother to bring the pup on the beach, as they were quite safe in the seacaves.

The following week saw a change to the weather, and the females began to move the pups to safer grounds.

A pup was brought onto the beach carried by the female on her back, but once fed and rested was then moved further round the coast. The next morning we were witness to one female with a young bull bring her pup onto the beach, and place it up a gully out of the reach of the tides.

This bull seal was a different male to the dominant male we have watched for many years. This was to prove an interesting time, as this younger male tried to take over the territory and gain the favour of the females.

There were several fights, over the following weeks, some on land! Others went on under the sea.

Both bulls have gained more scars.

The following day another female brought her pup on the beach and chose the same area as the first female. This was to cause several confrontations. Every time one female became too close to the other's pup.

The first pup was the pup born in the sea cave, and a week old. The second pup we could only guess to have been about 4 or 5 days younger.

This younger pup was very much at home in the sea and even during rough seas was swimming around with the female. This is the female bringing the pup in after a dramatic rescue a in very rough sea, which left us (watching by the wall) exhausted.

The female had first put the pup on her back, but the sea washed it off. The only way left was for the pup to be placed between the mothers flippers and her to guide it onto the beach.

Even after all this the pup was attempting to get back in the sea. The mother had to hold it down.

This she had to do on several occasions to this pup.

Pup no 1 was very different. It was very happy to stay near the river. After the female left it once suckling finished, it took up home in a fresh water pool for over a week, feeding on small fish coming down the river. Why go to sea? when food comes to you!

The change in a week is something amazing. The pup always liked the river as you can sea. This pup moulted to grey in just a few days, but hung out at the pool for a week, swimming and diving (it was quite deep). Practising how long a seal can stay under water for, and playing around with anything it could find. Oh, yes and feeding on something to get so big!!

Both the pups are now swimming feely and independent. They have both been seen in the area.

Sadly we are aware a number of pups have been found drowned due to the tail ends of the hurricane that swept America.

Both male have been interacting with the pups, and one female mated with both males, so we wait to see next year who returns.

	Early September saw calm seas and fine sunny weather. On a Saturday afternoon we observed a lot of activity from one of the female seals near an entrance to a sea cave. This signalled a birth of a pup. As the sea was clam and the tides were receding there was no reason for the mother to bring the pup on the beach, as they were quite safe in the seacaves. The following week saw a change to the weather, and the females began to move the pups to safer grounds.
A pup was brought onto the beach carried by the female on her back, but once fed and rested was then moved further round the coast. The next morning we were witness to one female with a young bull bring her pup onto the beach, and place it up a gully out of the reach of the tides. This bull seal was a different male to the dominant male we have watched for many years. This was to prove an interesting time, as this younger male tried to take over the territory and gain the favour of the females. There were several fights, over the following weeks, some on land! Others went on under the sea. Both bulls have gained more scars.
	The following day another female brought her pup on the beach and chose the same area as the first female. This was to cause several confrontations. Every time one female became too close to the other's pup. The first pup was the pup born in the sea cave, and a week old. The second pup we could only guess to have been about 4 or 5 days younger. This younger pup was very much at home in the sea and even during rough seas was swimming around with the female. This is the female bringing the pup in after a dramatic rescue a in very rough sea, which left us (watching by the wall) exhausted.
	The female had first put the pup on her back, but the sea washed it off. The only way left was for the pup to be placed between the mothers flippers and her to guide it onto the beach. Even after all this the pup was attempting to get back in the sea. The mother had to hold it down. This she had to do on several occasions to this pup. Pup no 1 was very different. It was very happy to stay near the river. After the female left it once suckling finished, it took up home in a fresh water pool for over a week, feeding on small fish coming down the river. Why go to sea? when food comes to you!

The change in a week is something amazing. The pup always liked the river as you can sea. This pup moulted to grey in just a few days, but hung out at the pool for a week, swimming and diving (it was quite deep). Practising how long a seal can stay under water for, and playing around with anything it could find. Oh, yes and feeding on something to get so big!! Both the pups are now swimming feely and independent. They have both been seen in the area. Sadly we are aware a number of pups have been found drowned due to the tail ends of the hurricane that swept America. Both male have been interacting with the pups, and one female mated with both males, so we wait to see next year who returns.