I've been so busy with domestic crises today I almost missed the news: a northern bottle nosed whale has swam up the Thames to London. Normally the species would be found feeding on squid around Greenland or Iceland, not in the Channel. Two were apotted near Aberdeen, and it's suspected this is one of the misplaced pair.
The outlook isn't good; it's fifty or so miles to the estuary where the Thames dumps into the Channel. Currently the whale is foundering in the shallow waters of central London, though it's been spotted as far inland as Battersea (near Chelsea). At London Bridge, the depth of the Thames is around 15-20 feet, depending on the tide—at this point, the Thames is a tidal river. Quite a difference from the deep sea caverns the whale is used to.
There are crowds in London, watching the reality show. I feel bad for the big guy (7 tonnes, they say) and don't wish to add to his agony. And then there are those domestic crises I won't bore you with—yet (but I will say the ACLU is there when you need them).
Maybe I'll get to Friday Pony Blogging later though.
UPDATE: The whale has been spotted in Greenwich. That's closer to the sea. Run, Willy, Run!
UPDATE II: Some doubt about the Greenwich sighting. Now he's back in Battersea, and looking "disorientated".
