Carnage at Winterton: Aftermath of the Sea Surge

A Boxing Day early afternoon walk at Winterton we had to really search for a free place to park, everyone was on the beach there must have been over a hundred people walking along. It was gratifying to sea the Cafe and the old Beachmen's huts had survived the recent sea surge although the anti tank traps hd been tossed about. Just a few metres out to sea almost by the shore line several Grey Seals were seen and a very irresponsible owner had let their dog swim out and one stage it looked as if the 2 Seals were going to attack it in a pincer movement but the dog quickly swam back to shore. walking further along north coming up to Horsey beach we found 3 Seal Pup carcasses victims of the recent sea surge. A white tiny baby seal pup was huddling amongst one of the groynes on the beck and taking the inland route we found an older pup in the Dunes. By another Seal carcass, 5 Turnstone and a Sanderling were gathering the Turnstone feeding of the raw meat from the carcass. Seeing the one of the Seal wardens who were doing an excellent job of keeping th people and their dogs away from the Seal Pup she said those mothers who'd been able to get their pups to the dunes had saved them around 75 but those who hadn't the Pups had been washed out to sea presumed dead 100+ but only a few carcasses had been washed up so far, we counted 4 in our walk. A massive Grey Seal hauled himself out of the water and lying on the sand, the great grandaddy of them all. Going back, we were delighted to have for company around 84 delightful Snow Buntings which flew around us for some 10 minutes, flying over our heads and calling their very festive tinkling calls.