The perfect breeding site
Although we can’t say for certain what’s led to this record breaking year at Blakeney Point, the reserve is the perfect breeding site for grey seals, not least because of the absence of predators and the relative remoteness which keeps disturbance to a minimum.
There’s also plenty of space to support the large numbers of seals on the sandy beach, with sheltered sand dunes further inland adding additional protection from bad weather. It’s also worth noting that the east coast has escaped some of the worst storms to hit the UK this winter, with grey seal rookeries on the west coast faring less well following Hurricane Ophelia in October.
Most of the seals will spend the majority of the year foraging for food across the North Sea. But females tend to return to the same breeding sites year after year. With increasing population numbers in recent years and those females now reaching breeding age, it’s a contributing factor to the colony’s increasing size. Also, with a mortality rate of less than 2.5% this winter, Blakeney Point continues to be a healthy, successful and productive rookery.