4-2-2012. The weather is certainly better than it is further South but even so we could do without the very strong and very cold wind. Nether the less i was out early and went straight to Gills Harbour to check on the Common Seal seen in the harbour last week. I sat in the Pentland ferry cafe and saw the seals behaviour was the same as last week, so i bought a cup of tea sat by the window and timed the intervals between the seal surfacing, the result was 4.5 minutes. I also kept an eye out for an Otter that had been seen last week, the staff in the cafe said thay had not seen it this week and i saw no sign of it today.

30-1-2012. 4 Common Seals Gills below Gills car Lay by. 1 young Common seal in Gills small harbour

28-1-2012. I counted 7 Common Seals on the Thurso River island today.

Tomorrow Sunday 29th there is a beach clean at Dunnet Beach from 11am - 3pm. Many hands make light work so if you have a spare hour or two please come along refreshments available.

26-1-2012. Had a look at the Thurso River just as the tide was turning this morning, spotted 2 seals in the river near at the rear of the legion. There was plenty of action with tail slapping and flipper flapping as 2 Common seals were sorting out who was alpha male then a 3rd seal settled on the island which i assume was a female. One of the antagonist then settled close by watching the other seals every move. Eventually all 3 seals settled on the Island with a 4th cautiuosly joining them.

After Thurso i travelled the North coast and failed to find seals at Brough, Ham, Scotland Haven and Gills Harbour and Bay.

18-1-2012. One very small common seal seen on the Thurso River Island near the Ellan footbridge just before high water

15-1-2012. There were 2 Common Seals on the Island in the Thurso River at the rear of the British Legion club today. For some reason there are fewer Seals hauling out there over the last few months compared with last year.

24-12-2011. Received a request from the BDMLR to look at a reported pup on North coast today. I quickly found the Grey Seal who was sleeping high up on the sandy beach, i estimated the seal at 3-4 weeks, molted so not mother dependent, it still had some short white hair on lower underside of body and because the seal was dry it appeared much whiter than it would be if wet. There was no sign of injury and the seal looked a good weight for it's stage of developement, the tide was out so i suspect it came in with the tide for a rest, being young they don't have the same swimming stamina older seals have, it's likely the seal will go out with the next high tide. I will check on the Seal over the Xmas period just in case it remains on the beach. phone picture sent to Ali Jack BDMLR Scottish National Organiser.