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Born in the waters of the Dart Estuary


M


y primary research plat- forms this summer and au- tumn have been the decks


of the Dart Pleasure Craft vessels sailing between Dartmouth and Totnes, for which I am most grateful. These facilities have enabled me to confirm grey seal water resting places, haul-out sites and foraging localities. However, additionally, these river cruises have turned up one very great surprise. Since 2005, never more than 2 adult harbour seals (previously called common seals but actually the less common species in the UK) have been observed in and outside the estuary. Superficially alike in appearance, harbour seals are generally smaller in size and, crudely speaking, have finely-spotted and white-ringed pelages. The greys have pelages covered with black blotches. If still in doubt, look at their nostrils. Whereas grey seals


have nostrils approximately parallel, harbour seal nostrils are V- or Y-shaped. This year, during July and August,


there have been 5 harbour seals using the estuary. One is a male, two are females and two are pups, born in the estuary – one in June, the second in July. Both pups – they are born black-coated in contrast with the greys, which are born white-coated - survived the period of lactation and are now weaned. That they have prospered may be because they were born at sites relatively remote from the risk of aggressive boat activity.


By Stephen Westcott


In recent years, I have been studying the use grey seals make of the Dart. They can be seen daily between the weir at Totnes and the Mewstone archipelago. By The Dart readers’ response to my article carried in the July edition of By The Dart has helped to confirm just when and where they are to be seen and what they are doing. Together, our observations will help inform any estuary management decisions that may be needed to offer the seals protection against deliberate disturbance. So: please carry on sending me a copy of your sightings at stephenmwestcote@gmail.com


These may be the first harbour seal pups ever born on the Dart, but not in Devon. In 1964, a harbour seal pup was delivered on the Erme, but proved to be stillborn. Where did the Dart harbour seals originate? Very few harbour seals occur on the south coast of England – small numbers do make regular use, for example, of Poole and Chichester harbours. In fact, their southern strongholds in the UK lie between the Wash and the shallow Swatch- ways at the entrance to the Thames estuary. However, at these sites their numbers are declining. Much


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