When my father was found to be in error he would comment philosophically, ‘Even Homer nodded’. I do not know the origin of this epigram but the gist is that even a genius may have the occasional lapse. Well, I have nodded. On 22 June, I wrote about a seal that has been living on the River Great Ouse. I described it as a common seal, the one of our two native species not infrequently seen up rivers. I was wrong: it is a grey seal! I had misgivings when I examined Ian Jackson’s photo of this seal but its head was not very clear and it seemed so unlikely that it would be a grey seal. How often has the advancement of knowledge been held up because the unlikely was equated with the impossible! I have since been able to find some more photographs (see above). These clearly show the shape of the head which proves the animal is a young male grey seal. This was confirmed by two seal experts, Sue Fogden and Sheila Anderson, with whom I have spent many happy weeks studying seals on the wilder parts of our coasts. In my defence, it is easy to confuse a young grey seal with a common seal. The diagnostic features for a grey seal are a larger, less rounded head and a less distinct forehead. In particular, the nostrils are nearly vertical, while those of the common seal form a distinct ‘V’. I was, however, correct that grey seals are rare in the fenland rivers. Sheila knew of one that had been seen in the River Welland near Spalding in Lincolnshire. She also told me of two common seals that were caught with nets on the Great Ouse at St Ives and released, suitably marked with coloured dye, in the Wash. Both came straight back up the river.
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