Tag Archives: first swim

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Harbor Seal pups are being born at several locations on the Mendonoma Coast. Kate Bloch was on the bluffs overlooking the rookery off The Sea Ranch when she witnessed an actual birth...and she photographed it for us to see.

Here the pup is being born.

And here the mother is looking to see how it's going! Two Western Gulls stand at the ready to eat the afterbirth.

Here the pup is breaking out of the amniotic sac.

And here is the first bonding of mother and newborn. They touch noses.

Below the pup begins to nurse. And then his/her mom leads the way to the ocean for the first swim.

Many thanks to Kate for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

When Harbor Seals are thriving, the ecosystem is doing well. Live long and prosper, little pup!

Foggy this morning but then brilliant sunshine broke out.

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Kate Bloch wrote, "This afternoon, I had the extraordinary privilege of witnessing the birth of a seal pup on Tide Pool Beach.  (This is the second such birth I've been lucky enough to observe.)  It was heartwarming and inspiring, capturing a remarkable moment of nature's magic.  It's seems especially timely that the birth took place on Earth Day.I have attached five photos.  They begin with the early emerging of the amniotic sac, reveal the moment of birth, and offer glimpses into the bonding between the mother and newborn, and their first swim together."

Tide Pool Beach April 22.2024
Tide Pool Beach April.22.2024

Now that the pup is born, the mother will bond with her. They touch noses!

Tide Pool Beach Birth April 22.2024
Tide Pool Beach April 22. 2024

Harbor Seal pups are born knowing how to swim. Here the newborn pup takes her first swim with her mother on Earth Day.

Tide Pool Beach April 22.204

Thanks to Kate for allowing me to share her great series of photos with you here.

Oh my, we had a good storm arrive in the wee hours of the morning. 1.86 inches fell, much more than predicted. It was a fairly gentle rain so there are only a few wisteria blossoms down at my place! Season to date rain total is 57.68 inches. 50.00 inches is a normal wet year, so two excellent rain years in a row now. Hooray!