During the second half of last year, many locals will have seen the Harbour Seal that spent time along the River Chelmer opposite Tescos.
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Harbour Seal, River Chelmer, July 2022 (Vicky Tiffin)
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Occasionally, what was presumably the same seal was seen on the canal itself...
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| Harbour Seal, Chelmer Blackwater Canal, June 2022 (John Buchanan) |
The challenge:
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| Beeleigh Weir, between river and canal... (John Buchanan) |
There were various theories as to how it he or she had reached the canal, such as through swimming upstream from open lock gates at Heybridge. A few of us assumed that it had somehow clambered up the weir at Beeleigh but had no proof. So it was great to meet Vicky Tiffin at Maldon Little Ship Club earlier this month and find that she had photographic evidence! Our intrepid seal really had scaled the weir at Beeleigh! Many thanks Vicky for sharing your photos!!
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| Harbour Seal, Beeleigh Weir, July 2022 (Vicky Tiffin) |
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| Harbour Seal, Beeleigh Weir, July 2022 (Vicky Tiffin) |
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| Harbour Seal, Beeleigh Weir, July 2022 (Vicky Tiffin) |
It will be interesting to see if there is a return visit next summer, though I am sure that the local anglers would rather not be competing with seals in the canal!
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