 DOZENS of grey seals basked on rocky ledges off the Gwynedd coast yesterday enjoying the bright spring sunshine. These delightful creatures were joined by hundreds of wheeling and screeching seagulls and cormorants. On St Tudwal's East, members of the rare black rabbit colony could be seen scampering about on the grassy slopes of the island. And just offshore there was the Shearwater. This Shearwater was not one of the handsome looking birds which live in colonies off the coast, but a blue and white catamaran which is based at Pwllheli Marina. Specially built for owner Alan Gray, the £230,000 Shearwater will give visitors to, and residents of, the Llyn Peninsula the opportunity to see these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. The Daily Post joined Alan and his crew for one of the season's first cruises.
 Alan said: "This unique craft will enable tourists to visit two island seal colonies and see the prolific bird life along this rugged coast in a controlled and environmentally sensitive manner." Anchored off Half Tide Rock, three miles off Abersoch yesterday, Mr Gray said: "The marine wildlife of this area is absolutely fascinating. I can spend all day just watching them. "I am a keen diver and I recall a few years ago when a seal came up to investigate what I was doing. The water was crystal clear and we were able to see ourselves clearly. The ungainly creature on land becomes very agile in the water and was able to run rings around me. It only broke away because he needed to surface for air," he said. Alan plans to run two daily trips from Pwllheli this summer. | 
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