On Sunday we celebrated my great-nephew`s 2nd birthday at Pett Level beach. His name is Hugo. We had a lovely family get-together, observing the present Covid rules.
The rain held off, the tide was in, the cakes were passed round, bubbles were blown, driftwood collected, searches for seaglass made, the children played and there was some loud horse-play.
Someone said, "I wonder if there are any seals around today."
Not long after that someone else yelled,
"There`s the seal!"
He was swimming VERY close to the shore, tumbling over and over and splashing about, generally making a spectacle of himself, attracted I believe, by the noise of people. I have noticed this before.
To our utter astonishment, he beached himself right up amongst us. Oh the mobiles were out! The photos we took!
To begin with he lay in the surf rolling onto his side as if he wanted a tickle, just like a puppy dog and totally posing. It seemed completely at ease. Some of us did wonder if he was ok or in fact tame. Later a call was made to a local animal welfare group and a messgae was left.
Even more amazing, it then made its way up the beach in a most ungainly fashion and was extremely close to us. It was alert to movement and made a deep growling noise when we were too close. You could see its doleful puppydog eyes and whiskery face.
One of our party told him to go back to the sea and it actually turned round and trundled back to the water`s edge. But that was not the end. He stayed there until we packed up to go home. As we walked up the shingle to the cars, he rolled into the sea and swam away.
Do you ever feel that an experience like this was orchestrated especially for you?
That is what it felt like.
Unforgettable.
We left the empty beach .....
And of course Hugo had a wonderful time.
What a lovely experience. Seals have such sweet faces.
ReplyDelete