STUNNING pictures show the moment some sailors came across an array of wildlife over the bank holiday.
Pam Ballam from Bournemouth was among a group of visitors travelling up the Beaulieu River when she saw grey seals perched on a rock basking in the sun.
Speaking about the wild discovery, Pam said: “I went on a boat trip up the river yesterday which went all the way up the river.
“The seals were all perched along the Beaulieu River, we saw six at first and then we saw another three or four the further we went.
“They're beautiful and their little faces are lovely.”
According to Dorset Wildlife Trust, the grey seal is the larger of the two UK seal species.
This species of seal can be identified by its larger size, longer head and sloped nose.
Seals are no secret to the Dorset coast as they have been spotted multiple times this year.
In April, officers created a cordon for a seal that had beached itself at Durdle Door beach.
Wareham Police blocked off a section of Durdle Door beach this afternoon to keep a safe distance between the public and the seal.
Officers joked on social media that they were putting a ‘seal on crime’.
A spokesperson for Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “Despite numbers dropping to only 500 in the early 20th century, it's estimated that there are now more than 120,000 grey seals in Britain, representing 40% of the world's population and 95% of the European population.
“In recent weeks there have been several reports of seals resting on beaches along the Dorset coast.
"Seals are very mobile marine mammals and travel hundreds of kilometres, but it is completely normal for them to come ashore to rest so they can recover lost energy, digest their food and they will also haul out for longer periods during their moulting season.
"It’s important that they are given plenty of space to rest without being disturbed.
"As the weather starts to improve, more people might be heading to the coast, so we just wanted to share a reminder of how to watch seals responsibly if you encounter them."
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