Donna Nook
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Hi Alf cant comment on the site as ive never been there, this link mat be helpfull for the tide times, just put in the location for your area of interest, usually a port or river nearby.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables/4/202/
Im sure others will be along soon to offer more info.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables/4/202/
Im sure others will be along soon to offer more info.
sorry --yes 2011
Please inform me WHO has asked use not to go to the waters edge?
I have heard that some :top-class : photographers have training programmes/visits organosed to visit the beach!!! Is there one rule or two rules for the general public!!
Please inform me WHO has asked use not to go to the waters edge?
I have heard that some :top-class : photographers have training programmes/visits organosed to visit the beach!!! Is there one rule or two rules for the general public!!
This is the only piece i have time to find as have to go out , will have another look later, hope you find it interesting reading .Every body has been asked to stay off the far part of the beach near the seals , but some "Top Class" photographers choose to make money by taking parties out there , many have been asked by the wardens not to go as i have heard them myself 
The Lincolnshire Wild Life Trust .
Unscrupulous photographers disturbing Donna Nook seal colony
Photographers harassment of seals has increased pup mortality
October 2010. For much of the year grey seals at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trusts' Donna NookNational Nature Reserve are at sea or hauled out on distant sandbanks. Every November and December, the seals give birth to their pups near the sand dunes: a wildlife spectacle which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the UK.
The viewing area at the foot of the sand dunes reduces disturbance to the seals and ensures the safety of visitors. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust requests that all visitors stay within the viewing area - behind the fence.
Photographers harassment of seals has increased pup mortality
For many years, keen and experienced wildlife photographers visited the small outer seal colony at weekends when the RAF was not making use of the beach as a bombing range. The seals in this colony are about a mile out across the mudflats and conditions on this exposed east coast beach can be extreme.
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust no longer condones or encourages access to these seals.
Increased pup mortality
Increased pup mortality in this part of the colony, 6 times greater than the main colony, was recorded in 2009. This is thought to be the result of disturbance caused by the increased numbers of photographers and casual visitors.
Whilst some of this disturbance is the result of atrocious behaviour by a few individuals, the sheer weight of numbers of people now going to the outer colony at weekends is also a factor. As a wildlife conservation body, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has to try and reduce activities that are causing seal pup deaths.
Code of Practice
As with photographing any wildlife subject, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust would hope that people follow the Code of Practice produced by the Nature Group of the Royal Photographic Society and in particular remember that:
The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph.
Photography should not be undertaken if it puts the subject at risk from disturbance, physical damage, and lessened reproductive success, or if it causes the subject anxiety.
Outer colony
Uncontrolled access to the outer colony is also spoiling the enjoyment of the thousands of visitors who stay behind the fence. The Wildlife Trust knows objects to people walking about on the beach and potentially causing disturbance and stress to the seals.
The viewing area at the foot of the sand dunes was established to reduce disturbance to the seals and ensure the safety of visitors. It is possible to get good quality photographs from the viewing area. From this location the full spectacle can be witnessed from cute seal pups and interactions between mother and young to the powerful and brutal fights between the males.
The Lincolnshire Wild Life Trust .
Unscrupulous photographers disturbing Donna Nook seal colony
Photographers harassment of seals has increased pup mortality
October 2010. For much of the year grey seals at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trusts' Donna NookNational Nature Reserve are at sea or hauled out on distant sandbanks. Every November and December, the seals give birth to their pups near the sand dunes: a wildlife spectacle which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the UK.
The viewing area at the foot of the sand dunes reduces disturbance to the seals and ensures the safety of visitors. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust requests that all visitors stay within the viewing area - behind the fence.
Photographers harassment of seals has increased pup mortality
For many years, keen and experienced wildlife photographers visited the small outer seal colony at weekends when the RAF was not making use of the beach as a bombing range. The seals in this colony are about a mile out across the mudflats and conditions on this exposed east coast beach can be extreme.
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust no longer condones or encourages access to these seals.
Increased pup mortality
Increased pup mortality in this part of the colony, 6 times greater than the main colony, was recorded in 2009. This is thought to be the result of disturbance caused by the increased numbers of photographers and casual visitors.
Whilst some of this disturbance is the result of atrocious behaviour by a few individuals, the sheer weight of numbers of people now going to the outer colony at weekends is also a factor. As a wildlife conservation body, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has to try and reduce activities that are causing seal pup deaths.
Code of Practice
As with photographing any wildlife subject, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust would hope that people follow the Code of Practice produced by the Nature Group of the Royal Photographic Society and in particular remember that:
The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph.
Photography should not be undertaken if it puts the subject at risk from disturbance, physical damage, and lessened reproductive success, or if it causes the subject anxiety.
Outer colony
Uncontrolled access to the outer colony is also spoiling the enjoyment of the thousands of visitors who stay behind the fence. The Wildlife Trust knows objects to people walking about on the beach and potentially causing disturbance and stress to the seals.
The viewing area at the foot of the sand dunes was established to reduce disturbance to the seals and ensure the safety of visitors. It is possible to get good quality photographs from the viewing area. From this location the full spectacle can be witnessed from cute seal pups and interactions between mother and young to the powerful and brutal fights between the males.
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Thanks for the info.
Can you give me any info re ---have the pro photographers and their trainees--who have paid good money to visit the pups been stopped---by who--and what law?
I do not wish to travel for many hours just to be turned away by a warden who does not have a piece of paper to show me the no-visitor order.
Personally I have wittessed the seals giving birth in the warden controlled area, behind the ropes, and seal and pup being subjected to excessive public attention---this arrangement was allowed by the wardens!!!!
Can you give me any info re ---have the pro photographers and their trainees--who have paid good money to visit the pups been stopped---by who--and what law?
I do not wish to travel for many hours just to be turned away by a warden who does not have a piece of paper to show me the no-visitor order.
Personally I have wittessed the seals giving birth in the warden controlled area, behind the ropes, and seal and pup being subjected to excessive public attention---this arrangement was allowed by the wardens!!!!
I have no wish to argue with you as you seem to know better than i , No there is no law to stop you as it is a public beach there for the choice is yours , the wardens are there to help, advise and inform people and help any seals when they need it.
As you say people are making money out of it , the photographers charging people to go with them and the food wagons that now go to the beach car park ect , i wonder how many people give a donation towards the upkeep of the area ,the wardens work for free .
I dont think there is any more i can say to you as everyone will have their own opinions on the subject and do as they see right, i really hope you enjoy your visit as i know i shall and have done for many years .
As you say people are making money out of it , the photographers charging people to go with them and the food wagons that now go to the beach car park ect , i wonder how many people give a donation towards the upkeep of the area ,the wardens work for free .
I dont think there is any more i can say to you as everyone will have their own opinions on the subject and do as they see right, i really hope you enjoy your visit as i know i shall and have done for many years .
SpikeK6
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There was a great thread on here last year about people on the beaches and being asked by the wardens not to get too Here
Like you say Alf there is no law to keep you off a public beach to take pictures, but I think when it can be proven that human interference is causing pups to die then that changes things slightly, does a guy that works with the seals really need a piece of paper to inform you that human interference could might or even will harm the pups???
I have never been there and will probably never will, but would I take the advice of someone from there who works there, yes I would, would i argue wityh him just to get a snap that will stay on computer, no I would not.
Just my 2 cents.
spike
Like you say Alf there is no law to keep you off a public beach to take pictures, but I think when it can be proven that human interference is causing pups to die then that changes things slightly, does a guy that works with the seals really need a piece of paper to inform you that human interference could might or even will harm the pups???
I have never been there and will probably never will, but would I take the advice of someone from there who works there, yes I would, would i argue wityh him just to get a snap that will stay on computer, no I would not.
Just my 2 cents.
spike
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