Just when I thought New Years Eve was going to follow the usual pattern ….the last day of the year slowly ebbing away, with lots of reminiscing over the wild life encounters I had over the previous 11 months and 30 days when BANG !! I receive a Whats App message that is barely credible ….(Many thanks to my birding mate Graham for the heads up)…… A Walrus ….. Yes, WALRUS!!! alive and well and fast asleep on the slip way in Scarborough harbour!!! You can imagine some of the expletives that were going off in my head ….!!! Anyways, upon reading the Twitter message out, my lovely Mrs immediately said “Well I suppose we will be going to Scarborough for a walk then !!!”
I must admit, I was very nervous on the way to Scarborough – what if it wasn’t there, maybe the Walrus had decided to leave : You never know Mother Nature can be very fickle!! However, as we drove round South Bay towards the harbour my fears had subsided- there were hundreds of people there!! So we parked up and walked down to the harbour and BOOM !! There sleeping on the slipway was a young male Walrus, with beautiful tusks -WOW, what a stunner. Apparently this was the same young male that had made an appearance in Hampshire in early December and it had also been spotted in the Netherlands too. A busy guy! What a great morning, it was so good to see so many happy faces. Its very true how connecting with Nature can lift our spirits!!
N.B. Thor – as he had been named, swam out of Scarborough harbour last night a free spirit to roam the seas. One word of advice ol’lad don’t visit Norway!! What a legacy he left!! Even Scarborough Council cancelled their New Year Eve’s firework display, as they did not want the resulting noises and explosions to disturb their special visitor. Massive respect to them!! Hopefully. Thor will safely continue his journeys, with one thing certain, if he does return he will always be welcome in Yorkshire.
