These Pictures of the Common Seal Colonies in the thames estuary were taken throughout the summer, each trip would consist of a start early in the morning, hoping that the weather would stay warm and dry so as to catch the seals basking in the sun on the sand banks in the Thames Estuary.

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Stock Images are available directly from the photographer for publication and promotional uses

Contact:Chris Laurens

Boat trips to see the Seals on the Kent coast are available through www.bayblast.co.uk who run trips throughout the spring, summer and Autumn

Common seal on the Kent Coast
Common seals can be found on the kent coast there are a few colonies based around Thanet, Faversham and in the middle of the Thames estuary between kent and essex.
The largest colony can be found on the on the isle of thanet,

Two species of True seal exist around the UK seaboard, the Common seal, Phoca vitulina, and the Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus

It is likely that there are around 200,000 Grey seals and 30,000 Commons off the UK shores in 2004. The common seal is the one we see off the kent coast where as the grey is more rare here so in conclusion the common seal is more commonly sighted in the kent area than the grey although the grey is more common to the English coast.
Distinguishing features for the Grey are :- its size - generally twice the weight of its Common counterpart - Male bulls have been known to grow up to half a ton or 500kgs in weight. Grey seal nostrils appear as nearly parallel slits while those of the common seal form a “V” shape. The long Roman nose of the male Grey is unlikely to be confused with the short “pug” nose of the Common though the females of both species are more difficult to distinguish. Grey seals are distributed widely round our coasts (excluding the English Channel).

Common seals are usually brown to grey in colour and are frequently better camouflaged in their chosen environment - usually closer inshore in more sheltered waters than their larger relatives.

Pupping takes place during June/July. Pups take to the water
within a few hours of birth and to this end, are born with a sleek coat and large hind flippers to keep them in close proximity to their mother for the first four weeks of life. Lactation periods vary - about 28 days for Commons and 16 - 21 days for Grey seals

The common seal pupping season peaks in June and July. The busiest time for common seals in the nursery is during the summer as this is when pups are abandoned by their mothers.