which seal is which?

[Nick Robinson]

Yeah, all Common Seal. It's hard to tell from your piccy about the larger one of the two, but the smaller one (with a wet patch round the eye) is certainly a large pup.

[Suesseals]

For what it is worth, I agree - 2 Commons.
Mottled pattern of coats is very distinctively different to that of Greys.
It could be sexual dimorphism, though it could also be age difference.
Without seeing a side on view of the seal body on the left it is hard to tell, but it could even be that this is an older female.
As you'll know we don't get many Commons in Cornwall, but the ones we do get tend to be adults and they can be surprisingly large.

Sue
Cornwall Seal Group
Cornwall Seal Group

[eeyore]

They are mainly commons at blakeney - though you do get some commons coming in to pup too - I'm going back in early dec to try and get some pup pics , you're welcome to join me again if you want

this is a grey seal - clearly showing the different head shape (which is why I muppeted up and labled it as a common - doh) taken on skokholm last year

[Suesseals]

I have a digital ID catalogue of around 450 different grey seals taken at one location in Cornwall. I am very keen to try to ID my first seal moving from here to the east coast.
If you are willing, I'd love to look at your photos to see if I recognise any of the seals you observe. Good ID shots are taken from the side - like this one, showing the markings on their neck. Obviously ID is easier, the more body you can see.
What do you reckon?

[eeyore]

Hi Sue

If you pm me a postal address ( I would not recomend putting this on the board unless you like junk mail) I'll happily send you a CD of pics from my trips to blakeney - although these are both common and grey.

The pic above was taken on skokholm on thewest coast but I am happy to send you those as well if you want

[Suesseals]

This is very exciting. So far we have IDs seals all round the Cornish coast and one seal has been to south wales and back in a few weeks and another one went to sw ireland, so it would be excellent to have your skomer photos too. Thanks hugely for offering. I'll pm you (get enough junk mail as it is!)