She was first seen locally around April 4^th 2002, and again on 17^th, 18^th, 19^th and 24^th April at the confluence of the rivers Yarrow and Douglas near Red Bridge, where she would 'haul-out' for a few hours on the point-bar sandbank in mid-stream, or spend some time fishing up and down the Douglas. On May 2^nd and 9^th she appeared a few yards in front of us in the Ribble at Hesketh Outmarsh downstream of the Ribble / Douglas confluence. On May 6^th, she 'hauled-out' near London Rd Bridge, Preston, where the R.S.P.C.A. checked her tag number and reported her in good condition.

Compared to Grey Seals, which are frequent in the Liverpool / Morecambe Bay complex, the status of Common Seal county-wise is classified as rare with only a handful reported annually. Both species are great wanderers, covering large distances at times. Records exist of tagged animals being noted in the morning on the Isle of Man coast, and being seen again the same late afternoon off Carnforth or South Walney.

We sent the tag number to Dr. Ailsa Hall of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St. Andrew's University, Fife. She collates all the British tagged seal information and her response proved to be most interesting. Here is an extract from her reply:-

"She is a female Common (or Harbour) Seal and was found at Barmouth on the Mawwdack Estuary, West Wales, on August 15^th 2001. She weighed only 10Kgs and was estimated to be around 6 weeks old, and had no visible injuries except for a jaw infection, which was treated. She was then released from Penrhyn Bay (near Colwyn Bay) on December 11^th, 2001."

We also asked Dr. Hall if anything is known about how seals find their way around the oceans, to which she replied:-

"Navigation is one of the major unanswered questions about seals. We really don't know how they do this, but seem to do so largely with great accuracy. Even young Grey Seals, abandoned at weaning by their mothers, quickly find their way with no parental guidance to the main 'haul-out' sites and foraging areas. We have tracked animals that seem to go directly from the Isle of May (Firth of Forth) up to Orkney, Shetland and across to Norway, using very direct routes. There is no evidence that they use geomagnetic cues as do other creatures, or echo-location as Dolphins etc. do. We presume they use their main senses (eyes, ears etc) and they possess whiskers, which are extremely sensitive to movement. Maybe one day we will solve this puzzle?"