A Fat Common Seal?

On arrival at The Patch this morning DW was on site with another birder watching the mystery Seal just off shore. The Seal soon hauled out and small gathering of locals began to study and photograph it. All seem to come to an ambiguous conclusion on its identity. 

I received a call from Tony and Brenda who have seen and photographed many Bearded Seals. They checked there slides of Bearded Seals against my photograph and ruled out it being a Bearded Seal. They also contacted one of there friends in the Orca Society who was 100% certain that the mystery seal is a a very fat Common Seal. Unless you know different!    

Rolling down the beach!

Head and shoulders dry back and tail wet

Completely different in the water

 Whilst watching the Seal 7+ Mediterranean Gulls could be seen on The Patch and beach along with at least 2 Little Gulls, good numbers of Gannets moving east an c200 Common Scoter west, also an Arctic Skua was seen per MS.

At the ARC 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Marsh Harriers were the highlights. The Swallow still feeding there young in the Screen Hide.
This afternoon at Springfield Bridge the Great White Egret, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier were the highlights.