Tenby, Pembrokeshire - 06.4.2021
Over the last couple of weeks I've been looking with envy at images of an Atlantic Walrus that's turned up in one of my favourite towns in west Wales a place I've both worked and had many a family holiday in the past, now that the "lock down" in Wales is over I'm off to see if I can get some images of this arctic marine animal I'm never likely to see ever again in Wales !
The Atlantic Walrus as its name suggested is found in Greenland first picked up on the south west coat of Ireland just over a month ago, I remember seeing reports in the press and thinking...wow that would be a sight to see, well I now have the chance, as it turned up on the coast of west Wales.
An extremely rare occurrence in the UK with odd individuals only ever seen in the very north of Scotland, seeing one so far south and so accessible, well as they say a Welsh once in a life time occurrence.
The map below shows the epic journey this believed second year male Walrus has made.
Tenby - 11.04.2021
It was only a couple of summers ago that the family were all enjoying a heat wave holiday in Tenby, now I'm back for a quick visit the weather a little different it's cold with the odd rain shower even some snow ! but still great to be back in one of my favourite Welsh towns to see and photograph this rare visitor from the arctic.
Here's a shot taken on the iPhone of that iconic view you always see on postcards, the two life boat buildings in the distant left is where the walrus hauls itself out life boat building slip to enjoy a sunny 5 degrees !
The view of the boat slip the Walrus likes to haul out on, unfortunately on the day of the visit the Walrus had disappeared a day earlier.
So did I see the walrus...No....it was last seen yesterday at 7.0am leaving the slip and wasn't seen again !
Atlantic Walrus - 11.04.2021
After Tuesday's no show the Walrus disappearing for four days up pops on the Twitter feed on Saturday morning.....Wally as it's now known is back ! a quick text to a contact in south Wales asking "has it returned"...the replay came back....yes...I'm there now ! Two hours later I'm on the road back down the M6.
After a stop over at my parents home it's early start down to Tenby arriving at 7.0am heading straight down to the harbour, already there are three observers there watching the Walrus actively feeding just off the boat station, and there it remained for the remainder of the day only briefly on one occasion coming to the slip for a scratch and these are the images, not like those seen last week of the Walrus basking on the slip, but I happy with my efforts and there's always another day...next Saturday !
Walrus Watchers
Atlantic Walrus
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