A walk over the dunes and along the beach at Winterton today produced a few good birds, including Peregrine, Common Buzzard (still scarce in east Norfolk), Hen Harrier, Crane, White-fronted Goose, Egyptian Goose, Woodcock in off the sea, 2 Little Egrets, a few Red-throated Divers and a couple of distant auk sp. A more gruesome find was a dead Harbour Porpoise that looked as if it had been the subject of an attack of some sort, possibly by a shark. The wound in the abdomen appeared to have some teeth marks and it is quite likely that a small shark would have taken a chunk out of the body, probably after its death. There are several small sharks living in the north sea, for example the Porbeagle or Mako shark, so it is distinctly possible. Of course, if certain elements of the British media saw this photograph, they would claim that a Great White Shark is on the loose..!
Nearby, a Herring Gull battled to swallow a starfish it had found on the tideline. Due to the attentions of other gulls, it eventually managed to swallow it whole!
Photos: Dead Harbour Porpoise; and a starfish that looks as if it is standing up to confront its attacker, a local Herring Gull.
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2 comments:
Send it to the Sun Terry it might keep the dog walkers off the beaches for a week or two.
Good idea, Alan.. dog walkers come from miles around to 'exercise' their dogs at Winterton.. and whilst most are responsible and clean up after their pets, there is a minority that leaves 'deposits' for others to enjoy... Maybe I should start a rumour about a huge shark that attacks pooches in the same way as Orcas attack sea lions on the beaches of South America.. :-)
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