Of all the unusual sights to be seen around the Islands, one of the most unexpected would have to be a seal emerging from the sea wearing a hat.
The National Seal Sanctuary at Gweek in Cornwall is releasing its seal pups wearing yellow numbered hats to track their progress.
Teign, Bob and Wilson have all been spotted off the Islands this year. Teign (number 41) was spotted on September 4 by visitors snorkelling with seals.
Teign was rescued from Porthcurno on January 3 2005 with large swelling to the left side of her face and broken teeth. She was released back to the wild on the 4th May 2005.
Teign has lost her hat so she now has a pink flipper tag with the number 028.
People spotting the seals are asked to contact the sanctuary on 01326 221361.
‘The hats will stay in place until late winter, early spring of next year and then fall off when the seal moults its fur,” said curator Dr Glenn Boyle.
‘If you see a seal with a yellow hat on its head, please call the sanctuary. This allows us to track a seal after we have released it.?
Sightings of Gweek seals (pictured below) have also been reported from Wales, Ireland, Brittany and Holland.
The National Seal Sanctuary is a rescue centre caring for injured and orphaned Seal pups.
Its aim is to return all the pups back into the wild, although it is also a permanent home to a community of adult seals who for various reasons cannot be released.