Delight as seal makes appearance off Portland Bill

Dorset Camera Club member Jamie Lock caught a sighting of this delightful seal off Portland Bill on Saturday.

Seal off Portland Bill (Image: Jamie Lock)

Winter is actually the perfect time to spot grey seals. The UK is home to over a third of the global grey seal population with estimates of around 120,000 – 162,000 individuals and Dorset regularly welcomes visitors.

From November to March, many seals ‘haul out’ or spend time on land on remote beaches.

Grey seals do this to pup in autumn and then moult in winter. Moulting is the process in which they shed their fur and even their whiskers and grow a new coat, like replacing a worn coat to stay warm and waterproof.

Added to this, winter storms and quieter beaches could make sightings more likely.

Remember Sammy the seal – Sammy gained a number of fans and followers that would flock to the beach to get a glimpse of him.

He joined paddleboarders and kayakers and hitched a ride on their boards, delighted beachgoers resting on the shoreline and has become quite the tourist attraction.

However, despite his friendly nature it is important that people kept their distance as with all seals as he did bite.