27 September 2014: Marine Drive session with 'Santa' ;0)
Saturday 27 September 2014 produced a rare, but very welcome, sighting of the elusive MV ‘Santa’ species. Previously thought to be extinct, sightings of this essentially landlubbing mammalian creature in the ocean are reported on average just - once each year (hence, the ‘Santa’ sub-species classification by experts at the Natural History Museum).
More recent, reported (but unproven - due to poor visibility) sighting of this species include one of a ‘Scuba-Santa’ frantically swimming to the surface with what appeared to be one flipper and huge wide scary eyes in the London area. It is thought that this animal may have been ill or wounded as a trail of excrement was also reported in the area.
Yesterday’s sighting at Marine Drive, Woolacombe, North Devon was something far more majestic – a fully fit and healthy looking specimen was observed over a period of almost two hours in the surf zone. Photographic evidence is unfortunately unavailable – some say this animal is covered in a strange anti-photo ‘slime’ making it invisible to standard digital photography equipment.
In classic 3ft clean / glassy surf conditions amazed bystanders reported seeing the ‘Santa’ animal taking off on set waves and (quote) – “flying down the line”. Local resident Bob Crabapple described the sighting as ‘truly wonderful’ – “We had almost given up on ever seeing a ‘Santa’ again on our shores – sightings during the 1990’s and early 2000’s were relatively common but rumour had it that this creature had become extinct. We are frankly ‘stoked' to see it once again.”
In fading light around 7:15pm it was even reported that an ‘amorous encounter’ may have occurred between the ‘Santa’ and a local dolphin (or porpoise). Dolphin ‘chatter’ along with a strange ‘wet slapping’ noise was reported from the line-up . It was a “beautiful moment” said Doris Grundy – local farmer’s wife and North Devon resident.
The producers of BBC’s “SpringWatch” were reported as being “totally gutted” at missing this sighting. Chris Packham said that the team had spent years setting up trip-cameras and sub-aqua sonar equipment all along the coast in a last-ditch attempt to track down and film this creature. “Somehow it managed to get to the shoreline and into the water without tripping any of our cameras – it’s a complete mystery”.
The final moments of yesterday’s sighting were of an ‘exhausted but happy’ Santa climbing the sand dunes at the back of the beach and disappearing into the darkness.
If you have any reported sighting of ‘Santa’ please contact us at #SantaSightings/NDev.
More recent, reported (but unproven - due to poor visibility) sighting of this species include one of a ‘Scuba-Santa’ frantically swimming to the surface with what appeared to be one flipper and huge wide scary eyes in the London area. It is thought that this animal may have been ill or wounded as a trail of excrement was also reported in the area.
Yesterday’s sighting at Marine Drive, Woolacombe, North Devon was something far more majestic – a fully fit and healthy looking specimen was observed over a period of almost two hours in the surf zone. Photographic evidence is unfortunately unavailable – some say this animal is covered in a strange anti-photo ‘slime’ making it invisible to standard digital photography equipment.
In classic 3ft clean / glassy surf conditions amazed bystanders reported seeing the ‘Santa’ animal taking off on set waves and (quote) – “flying down the line”. Local resident Bob Crabapple described the sighting as ‘truly wonderful’ – “We had almost given up on ever seeing a ‘Santa’ again on our shores – sightings during the 1990’s and early 2000’s were relatively common but rumour had it that this creature had become extinct. We are frankly ‘stoked' to see it once again.”
In fading light around 7:15pm it was even reported that an ‘amorous encounter’ may have occurred between the ‘Santa’ and a local dolphin (or porpoise). Dolphin ‘chatter’ along with a strange ‘wet slapping’ noise was reported from the line-up . It was a “beautiful moment” said Doris Grundy – local farmer’s wife and North Devon resident.
The producers of BBC’s “SpringWatch” were reported as being “totally gutted” at missing this sighting. Chris Packham said that the team had spent years setting up trip-cameras and sub-aqua sonar equipment all along the coast in a last-ditch attempt to track down and film this creature. “Somehow it managed to get to the shoreline and into the water without tripping any of our cameras – it’s a complete mystery”.
The final moments of yesterday’s sighting were of an ‘exhausted but happy’ Santa climbing the sand dunes at the back of the beach and disappearing into the darkness.
If you have any reported sighting of ‘Santa’ please contact us at #SantaSightings/NDev.
posted by Hellman at 11:25 AM
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