Very fat pups predominate in the colony now. With their mums gone to sea, “weaners” are scattered around the colony, lying in nests of their own neonatal white hair ( during a recent ‘Cammy’’ trial, the RCV drove through the edge of one of these and became even more camouflaged by a mass of white fur covering one of its wheels! Whilst this moulting process makes for very cute photos, it is also interesting to remember that grey seals are thought to have had an ice-breeding origin and the white hair (or lanugo) of pups is a vestige of this. White hair provided camouflage in the icy breeding sites associated with more northern latitudes, making vulnerable young pups less obvious to hungry predators. As the white coat moults out, the first patterned pelage emerges, like that sported by adults. There’s a backwards analogy of the ugly duckling turning into a swan here somewhere (arguable).
In addition to weaner “nests”, we have also seen an increase in male “action”, for want of a better word. Towards the end of the lactation period, females become receptive to males as they come into oestrus and accept mating. This is when males are busy. It’s very easy to tell where a male is if you’re downwind – they have a very distinctive musky odour. We’ve seen some of our departing study females getting intercepted by males lurking at the gully access points, resulting in “love on the rocks” (thank you, Neil Diamond). The really cool thing is that whilst females may be mated on Rona now, the development of the new foetus is suspended for a few months, thereby making them ready to give birth at approximately the same time next year! Clever hey?
Bacon update: slow going. Des update: getting to look a bit plump. Weather update: bonkers! Mild and days with no wind – wait till we want to leave!
Best wishes from the Rainbow Isle,