An inquisitive herd of cows was all it took to prompt Ian Ellis, who was birdwatching at Frampton Marsh nature reserve in Lincolnshire, U.K., to take a closer look through his telescope late last month.

But instead of a bird, when Ellis looked closer, he was startled to see a seal pup peering back at him . The seal was stuck in a mud puddle while curious cows looked on.