....but it's not quite!
Those of you who have been watching BBC Autumnwatch this week will know that the grey seal pupping season is just getting started up on the Isle of May. Down here we are right at the end of our season...or so we thought. In the past 4 days 10 pups have been born on our monitored beaches. This brings the total for the season to an estimated 730 (we count the 9 beaches accurately then use a formula to calculate a whole island estimate)
It's not all been plain sailing for the new pups but overall the weather has been fairly 'average' for autumn meaning plenty of gales but only one storm of note (although this coming weekend will be a challenge for some of these new pups with 50mph+ winds forecast and big spring tides).
Bird wise things have been quiet of late but yesterday saw some interest wader wise at least with 7 golden plover, 3 curlew and a jack snipe. The centre of the island is very wet at the moment providing ideal habitat for increasing numbers of common snipe with the occasional appearance of their smaller cousins.
Taken on Aber Felin, the beach below the house, this afternoon, this little one was born last night. One of 10 new borns in the past few days
Tucking into a good feed of 60% fat milk. All going well he or she should go from a birth weight of 15kg to around 45kg within 3 weeks. Will keep you posted on progress....