Bearded seal

A seal has swum 1,500 miles off course from the Arctic to the Hebrides.

The Bearded seal is an extremely rare visitor to the UK, having been seen only 23 times before.

This is the first ever recording in the Hebrides.

The loud-singing sopranos which inhabit the ice floes are named after their long whiskers.

Now one appears to have taken up residence in the Isle of Harris.

The surprise visitor was found on an island beach and reported by Eilidh Campbell and Gordon MacDonald on Tuesday.

Sara Kwasniewska, assistant co-ordinator for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue in the Western Isles, checked it out and confirmed it was a Bearded seal.

Senior co-ordinator, David Yardley, said: “I’m happy to say the seal is in reasonably good health and currently going through a moulting stage, so appears rather untidy.

“The seal has travelled a fair distance and requires rest while it completes moulting.”

He said the discovery is “sparking much excitement to see the unusual Arctic visitor on our coasts and once again, showing that the Hebrides is becoming a hot spot for unusual sightings.”

He added: “From national records it’s the 23rd confirmed case of a Bearded seal in the UK since around the year 2000.

“This is our first confirmed case for the Outer Hebrides.”

Mr Yardley explained: “Bearded seals are normally found floating on ice packs around the Arctic circle, so to see one here is highly unusual. But quite easy to spot with its beard like whiskers.

“We’ll be monitoring the seal as a precautionary measure and ask should anyone come across it, to please keep their distance and avoiding disturbing it.”

Bearded seals can grow up to three metres long and mature females can weigh 450kg.

They have small heads, large bodies and square fore-flippers. Older seals tend to remain in sheltered bays but juveniles sometimes venture into deeper waters.

Bearded seal swims 1,500 miles from Arctic to Harris

18 April 2018

Photos: Gordon MacDonald