ONE birdwatcher had something of a shock earlier this week when he spotted a seal making its way through a field – 50 miles inland.

The seal, initially mistaken for a dog, was spotted near St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

It is believed the creature, filmed scrambling over flood defences, had swam up the overflowing Great Ouse from the Norfolk coast.

Severe and widespread flooding was once rare in the UK but because of climate change we can expect it every year.

As I said a few columns ago, British wildlife is safe but rather boring.

However, the millions of litres of extra water our country is receiving could turn the low-lying parts of our region into a habitat for some more interesting aquatic creatures, I thought rather facetiously.

As the rivers Holme, Colne and Calder swell beyond recognition perhaps we can perhaps expect visits from lost whales and octopuses, which wouldn’t be too bad as long as the whales didn’t end up beached.

However, riverboat enthusiasts expecting a quiet break on the soon to be inappropriately named Huddersfield Narrow Canal may be forced to dodge manatees and take shelter from hungry albatrosses after their pack lunches.

The Holmfirth Duck Race would become a little more challenging as many of the plastic ducks may disappear into the bellies of walruses and giant squid – and woe betide the poor volunteers who have to wade in to free the inevitable stuck ducks.

But it isn’t all bad news.

If anglers are happy to hook carp and tench, imagine how delighted they’d be to reel in a marlin on an average day at the local fishing lodge.

The John Smith’s Complex could add an outdoor aquarium which would surely boost tourism and chicken farmers needn’t be troubled by foxes when there are sharks swimming around their coups.