Tag: gray seal

animals, landscape, mammal, nature, photography, seasons, travel, wildlife, world

Travel Tuesday: Knieper

solaner
Cancer pagurus, commonly known as the edible crab or brown crab / Taschenkrebs

“Knieper” is lower German for “Kneifer” which is the noun for the verb “kneifen” (to nib oder to pinch).

I stumbled upon the crab per incident on the beach of Helgoland. They live in the Northern Atlantic and the North Sea. They are able to bring some water in their body to be able to “breath” when outside the water.

Although, I knew this species, I never met such a huge one before. It’s size was approximately of a DIN A4 sheet of paper (~30×21 cm). According to wikipedia, that’s nearly the maximum size.

He was still alive and I don’t know, why he left the ocean. Maybe, he was originally caught by a seal and then left alone. Who knows. I was glad about the finding.

Take care!

 

animals, art, landscape, mammal, nature, photography, travel, wildlife, world

Monochrome Madness 4-51

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It’s still coupling season for the grey seals. So, this big male tries to convince the smaller female below him to give him a try 🙂 Despite this looks like a fight, it wasn’t.

This is my contribution to Monochrome Madness organized by Leanne Cole for more than four years now. Look at here site on Wednesday (Australian time), to see many more monochrome images created by many other talented photographers from all over the world.

I’d also encourage you to participate. The conditions are  published in each of her Monochrome Madness posts.

Take care!

landscape, nature, photography, seasons, travel, world

Travel Tuesday: looking back

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In this image you can see another part of the concrete wall saving the foot of the red sand stone cliffs of Helgoland from the sea.You can also see the higher parts of the only town (more a village) of Helgoland and the 4 landmarks: the chimney of the heating plant, the church tower, the lighthouse and the radio tower (left to right). Above the island we have a fantastic colourful sky. Try to guess the time 🙂 It’s 9:32 a.m.!! in mid January. I really love the colors.

Take care!

 

animals, nature, photography, seasons, travel, wildlife, world

Travel Tuesday: adolescent seal

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This young grey seal isn’t a baby anymore. Compare the image with the one I posted last week. Although, it still has its baby fat, it already has changed fur and is ready to start to live alone. Since the mother left the baby at an age of 3 or 4 weeks, it is alone. Someday, when hunger comes, it is ready to go in the sea and start to learn hunting fish. Pay attention to the teeth: it’s a predator!

Take care!

 

animals, landscape, mammal, nature, photography, seasons, travel, wildlife, world

Travel Tuesday: baby seal

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Do you remember the image I showed you six weeks ago? The image of a new-born seal.

Today, I have another baby for you. But, this one is a ‘bit’ older. It’s born on January 2nd and the photo is taken on January 17th. So, it’s two weeks old. Compare the two images. Gray seals get fed with milk by their mother for only 3 – 4 weeks. Every day their weight rises enormously. They weigh 10 – 15 kg at birth. Every day, the weight increases by 1-2 kg. After that, the mother leaves them alone at the beach. Their fur changes from the soft white to the ticker grey fur, dense enough to swim. The babies can’t go swimming as long as they have their white fur. After changing fur, as an adolescent they are able to go in the water and start learning hunting on their own.

Take care!