A HERD of seals have been spotted sunbathing in the Walton backwaters.
Photographer Paul Ost captured these close-range pictures of the group as they cooled off in the shallows.
Paul is a member of the Gazette Camera Club on Facebook, and in his post he wrote: "Whilst Sammy the seal captures headlines at West Mersea, not many people realise that there are lots of seals close to us in the Walton backwaters.
"These can be viewed by boat, which is a fascinating, not expensive, trip covering a lot of history of the area, and other wildlife.
"Well worth doing if you are keen on photography.
"The boat is situated at the Naze End."
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Although an unusual sight for many, dozens of seals live in the Walton backwaters and have done so for decades.
If you want to join the group, search for Gazette Camera Club Colchester on Facebook and send us a request.
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