The estuary of the River Stour (“Store”), Kent lies between Ramsgate and Pegwell Bay a short distance to the south. Common seals can reliably be found near the mouth of the river, sunning themselves on the banks. These seals come in a variety of colours. In September some of this season’s pups could be seen growing up among the adults. To be frank, although I took plenty of photos of these lovely creatures looking appealing and / or in amusing poses, the end results were disappointing. Partly, a rocking boat made sharpness difficult to achieve but mainly the adult seals just looked like bloated sausages lying in an unattractive landscape of mud and coarse grass. Here are a few pictures that were spared deletion…
ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY 
It’s the quality not the quantity that counts! These are great. I never realised you could get seals in England. I have seen them in Scotland but not so close as your photographs show. They are very appealing but not fashioned for more than a flop out of the water. Amelia
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Thanks, Amelia. Getting so close was perfect for grandchildren (well, one of the 2 with us – the other, 6 months – slept through the entire trip!), rather than gesticulating at some distant black blob in the sea. We did watch one in the river swimming elegantly to the shore. Then, as you say, it flopped out of the water and turned from sleek torpedo to wet plump sausage before our eyes… RH
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