Seals may be a fairly common sight on the Northumberland coast.
But walker Monica Comsa certainly wasn't expecting to see one while out for a stroll more than 20 miles inland.
Keen amateur photographer Monica had been walking by the river near Wylam, Northumberland, on Sunday evening, when she spotted something rather unusual.
A seal, likely a Grey Seal, snacking on a fresh salmon in the River Tyne.
Monica, 35, said: "I've heard of seals being in the Tyne but definitely not that far up the river, I thought that was amazing and so surprising.
"I had been taking photos of wildlife and I was just putting my camera away when my husband said 'what's that?' - I looked and honestly I couldn't believe it.
"Initially we could see the salmon floating and the seal was coming up from underneath it."
According to the UK Angling Trust, seals are known to swim inland, often in search of food, but although there is a large Grey Seal population at the Farne Islands, it's unusual to see one so far away from the open sea.
Monica, an NHS doctor who has spent her spare time during lockdown learning wildlife photography with the help of YouTube videos, added: "I was just lucky to be there at the right time - and to have the camera ready with full battery.
"It was incredible and I just thought, gosh, this is so rare, I have to get a picture."
