The seal population has bounced back after some major disturbances.

South Walney Nature Reserve is an important site with stunning views across Morecambe Bay, it is a fantastic place for bird watching as there are 250 bird species recorded in the area, it is also home to the only grey seal colony in the county.

The numbers are in for this year’s South Walney Nature Reserve’s grey seal season.

After a dip last year, the seal colony has bounced back to high numbers.

Every year, the team at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow record data on the grey seals that turn up on the shingle beaches so that they can protect them.

The seal monitoring season came to an end in March, after surveying fortnightly since September.

South Walney Nature Reserve report that it was a good year for the colony, during these six months, seven pups were born and the population size peaked at 466 individuals.

The group was observed at its highest in January, and was counted using a drone.

The Nature Reserve said this year was not the highest number seen on the shores of South Walney, 518 were recorded back in 2021.

South Walney Nature Reserve  said: “Let's all work to keep disturbances away from these wonderful animals, so that the coming year proves equally successful for Cumbria's only grey seal colony.

You may be able to see the grey seals at high tide all year round at their only location in Cumbria.