In Pictures: Tower Bridge Seal Sunbathes At St Saviour's Dock

By helenbabbs Last edited 170 months ago
In Pictures: Tower Bridge Seal Sunbathes At St Saviour's Dock
Seals are actually frequent visitors to the River Thames and its estuary.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
Seals are actually frequent visitors to the River Thames and its estuary. Photograph by Julian Cox.
Bathing in some rare winter sun.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
Bathing in some rare winter sun. Photograph by Julian Cox.
The common seal is the most widespread of all the pinnipeds (fin-footed mammals). They're opportunistic when it comes to food, hunting fish, molluscs and crustaceans.  Photograph by Julian Cox
The common seal is the most widespread of all the pinnipeds (fin-footed mammals). They're opportunistic when it comes to food, hunting fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Photograph by Julian Cox
Common seals like hanging out on rocky shores, mud flats and sandy beaches. And in capital cities. The St Saviour's seal continues to laze around in the Thames at Bermondsey if you fancy trying to spot it.  Photograph by Julian Cox
Common seals like hanging out on rocky shores, mud flats and sandy beaches. And in capital cities. The St Saviour's seal continues to laze around in the Thames at Bermondsey if you fancy trying to spot it. Photograph by Julian Cox
The Tower Bridge seal takes a long lazy yawn.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
The Tower Bridge seal takes a long lazy yawn. Photograph by Julian Cox.
Seals are actually frequent visitors to the River Thames and its estuary.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
Seals are actually frequent visitors to the River Thames and its estuary. Photograph by Julian Cox.
Bathing in some rare winter sun.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
Bathing in some rare winter sun. Photograph by Julian Cox.
The common seal is the most widespread of all the pinnipeds (fin-footed mammals). They're opportunistic when it comes to food, hunting fish, molluscs and crustaceans.  Photograph by Julian Cox
The common seal is the most widespread of all the pinnipeds (fin-footed mammals). They're opportunistic when it comes to food, hunting fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Photograph by Julian Cox
Common seals like hanging out on rocky shores, mud flats and sandy beaches. And in capital cities. The St Saviour's seal continues to laze around in the Thames at Bermondsey if you fancy trying to spot it.  Photograph by Julian Cox
Common seals like hanging out on rocky shores, mud flats and sandy beaches. And in capital cities. The St Saviour's seal continues to laze around in the Thames at Bermondsey if you fancy trying to spot it. Photograph by Julian Cox
The Tower Bridge seal takes a long lazy yawn.  Photograph by Julian Cox.
The Tower Bridge seal takes a long lazy yawn. Photograph by Julian Cox.

Lucky Londoner and wildlife photographer Julian Cox currently has a seal sunbathing in his back garden. Well, sort of. His flat overlooks St Saviour's Dock near Tower Bridge where this glorious creature is currently basking in the Thames.

"I was given special access out on to the dock this weekend to photograph the seal. Truly amazing! She's very relaxed and comes in regularly on the high tide in the afternoon and just after midnight. She hauls out onto the platform meant for the local mute swan. The swan's not happy. On Saturday the swan was forced to vacate the platform while the seal waited patiently in the water for her chaise longue to become free!"

Last Updated 26 January 2010