Bearded seal has thrived in Courtmacsherry Bay for 2 years

What amazes friends and neighbours who comment on the bearded seal that was identified in Courtmacsherry Bay early this month is that it has been resident here for up to two years.

Willie O’Driscoll of Kilbrittain, a local farmer, has regularly seen the animal over that period, an Arctic species only once before recorded in Irish waters. However, it was not identified until Paul Connaughton of Shearwater Wildlife Tours, spotted it. Finding it over 2,000km south of its native habitat was a surprise, made more extraordinary by its confirmed presence over two breeding seasons. What would have kept it here? Having swum so far south, it could presumably have found its way home at will; the Arctic ocean is not an

obscure creek. Close viewing indicates a fit and healthy animal. As males are the wanderers, it is almost certainly