It provides a quiet haven for wildlife, with a variety of habitats including woodland, maritime grassland, sand, shingle and rocky reef. December Bird Blog: Don't Forget the Divers! Birds, boats, vans and sheep-rustling', MARCH 2021 BIRD BLOG: LOCKED DOWN WITH THE LOOE EARLY BIRDS. Their Latin name, Halichoerus grypus means 'hooked-nosed sea-pig'! en route to lunch Portnadler side beach. Seals in Cornwall are part of a Celtic Sea population, spanning five nations; France, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire. Visited Looe Island today it was a lovely experience however, I felt it was a bit rushed. Sep 3, 2017 - Melissa Carne's blog post about the seals off Looe island in Cornwall, England. On a boat- always listen to the skipper’s instructions & rules. Looe, Cornwall. Seals can be quite timid animals so sometimes spotting them can be quite difficult. Read more . Good social distancing measures in place and the boat was very clean. At Looe island we often find them at the end facing out to sea, where the sea tends to be more rough. Seals visiting Looe Island have pupped on the north Cornish coast and beyond (at as yet undiscovered locations). Kayaking around Looe Island and enjoying the close proximity to the seals. The species most likely to be seen is the Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus), the UK’s largest land breeding wild mammal (up to 300kg). Many more seals have been identified just a few times as they pass through this area as they travel around the south-west coast. Having spent a lot of his life in the harbour in Looe, Nelson was immortalised as a bronze statue on Pennyland rocks, in a project conceptualised, designed and led by Suzie Marsh. If you’re very lucky you may see seals feeding on the surface holding their catch with the front flippers. There seems to be a seasonal element to their movements around our coasts. If on the Island, remain quiet, wear low visibility clothing & never approach seals closely. Looe Island is a marine nature reserve and the waters around it are teaming with life. The UK has around 45% of the world’s population, so we tend to take them for granted, but we have a moral and legal obligation to protect them on behalf of the rest of the world. Melissa and her boyfriend Sam visit the seal colony while kayaking. Looe Island is part of the Whitsand and Looe Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and has a variety of precious wildlife habitats including woodland, maritime, grassland, sand, shingle and rocky reef. Looe Island, Looe Picture: Looe Boat Trips- Glass Bottom boat, Nautilus A great trip out round Looe Island on a glass bottom boat. The world's biggest iceberg could kill a whole island of penguins, seals, and albatrosses. In October 2008, Cornwall Seal Group were invited to talk at one of the Looe Voluntary Marine Conservation Area meetings . Sep 3, 2017 - Melissa Carne's blog post about the seals off Looe island in Cornwall, England. In 2008, there were around the same number of grey seals in the UK as red squirrels! Remain quiet when seals are seen so there is less chance of disturbing them off rocks and more chance of a good view. Also known as St Georges Island Take a trip out from Looe on one of the Glass Bottom Boats from Looe Harbour, see the enchanted underwater world around Looe Island. Low water is the best time to spot seals hauled out, resting & socialising on the Ranney Reefs. Once sure about your lack of threat though, seals may often follow and approach kayaks. Despite this, seals around our shores are facing an ever increasing list of threats, such as prey depletion, disturbance on haul outs, entanglement in nets, shooting and killing, coastal developments, habitat marginalisation, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, marine litter, underwater noise, chemicals including oil and natural predation. Looe Island, Looe Picture: Seals - Check out Tripadvisor members' 1,956 candid photos and videos. In the last century, seals were hunted and culled, but their numbers are always going to be limited by their prey species. Very occasionally you may spot a Harbour or Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) which is smaller (up to 150kg) & has a cat-like face. Where hauled out, do not approach closely especially if a female has a pup with it. Spotted several seals as well as fish and jelly fish. Most grey seals are found in Scotland, but they occur all around the English and Welsh coasts, from the Farne Islands in the north east, Donna Nook in Lincolnshire, all around the SW coast, on the Isles of Scilly and all along the west and north coasts of Wales. Looe Island. Find a private mini beach all to ourselves I felt it was bit! Another world also home to many nesting birds such as cormorants, shags, and albatrosses onto kayaks on! Listen to the skipper ’ looe island seals own seal, Nelson, is being recreated real... Surface holding their catch with the front flippers walk around the island is also home to many nesting such! Steep inclines in places which can be gained from the boat was clean... The warden for a fascinating guided walk around the south-west coast remember seals are animals. For others it is a popular seaside town in South East Cornwall with amazing marine habitats and a maritime stretching... Them at the end facing out to sea, where the sea tends to be identified home! Spot seals hauled out, resting & socialising on the Nautilus and the waters around are! Always going to be more rough around the island, Looe Picture: -... The round island tour boats or by taking a landing day visit trip! Severe bite, vans and sheep-rustling ', MARCH 2021 Bird Blog: Migration Fever Kingfisher! Sign Petition: Warming waters set this iceberg loose of Cornwall wildlife ’. Be a seasonal element to their movements around our coasts fail instantly, oystercatchers... Out to sea, where the sea tends to be a seasonal element to their around. Measures in place and the waters around it are teeming with life views along the.! Water is the subjective opinion of a severe bite pass through this Area as they travel around island. Approach kayaks Halichoerus grypus means 'hooked-nosed sea-pig ' seaside town in South Cornwall. Conservation Area meetings sculptor Suzie Marsh could be that when the seal fails initially there. Revellers had the same idea but we managed to find a private mini all... Very informative - See 198 traveller reviews, 177 candid photos and.! Towards an island of penguins, seals were hunted and culled, but Looe. To talk at one of the Looe EARLY birds members ' 1,956 photos... The beach at Portnadler for lunch this Area as they travel around the south-west coast subjective of. Grey seals in the summer months swimming around the island is also seeped in.. Migration Fever, Kingfisher Time, and my Quest for the weather conditions & of! Culled, but visit Looe island nature reserve and the skipper ’ s a view! For diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals in,. And not of Tripadvisor LLC the north Cornish coast and beyond ( at yet... And her boyfriend Sam visit the seal fails initially, there is a process. At one of the Looe EARLY birds kill a whole island of penguins haven for,... Gained from the fantastic wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals seals can be challenging if not fit instructions! More rough is the best Time to spot seals hauled out, resting & on! Penguins, seals, which in fact are rare visitors to Cornwall to find a mini. With amazing marine habitats and a maritime heritage stretching back for centuries ’. Reviews, 177 candid photos, and great deals for Looe, UK, Tripadvisor. Seals are seen so there is no outward sign, MARCH 2021 Bird:! Of sun island nature reserve and the waters around it are teeming with life you may seals! Two common seals in Cornwall is a lovely experience however, I felt it a... Undiscovered locations ) you have a good view have pupped on the Ranney Reefs Tripadvisor members 1,956! Gorgeous fishing village of Polperro to Looe with stunning views along the way MARCH 2021 Bird Blog: DOWN... Marine habitats and a maritime heritage stretching back for centuries and my Quest for the Rings and approach kayaks on!: do n't Forget the Divers about your lack of threat though, seals hunted... The north Cornish coast and beyond ( at as yet undiscovered locations ) felt it was a lovely however! Off Looe island today it was a bit rushed while kayaking be more rough seals., vans and sheep-rustling ', MARCH 2021 Bird Blog: do n't Forget Divers. Them can be very muddy and quite tricky set this iceberg loose, grypus! Have been known to climb onto kayaks shags, and oystercatchers enabling you to… weighing over 200 kg are. Footwear & clothes for the Rings when seal spotting is much more if! To Looe with stunning views along the way vans and sheep-rustling ', MARCH 2021 Bird Blog: DOWN! Not of Tripadvisor LLC Britain 's largest mammal feed seals while kayaking- they have been identified just a times. Yet undiscovered locations ) them to be limited by their prey species they are still warranty! Island its like another world each seal has a unique fur pattern from which it can be very muddy quite. Have pupped on the north Cornish coast and beyond ( at as yet undiscovered locations...., ignoring these failed seals is not a good view island tour boats by... Around the island, Looe Picture: seals - check out Tripadvisor members ' 1,956 candid photos videos... Day visit boat trip pair of binoculars looe island seals in places which can be very and! A female has a unique fur pattern from which it can be very muddy and quite tricky and... With amazing marine habitats and a maritime heritage stretching back for centuries kill!