The next peninsula along from Spurness to the east is called Hacksness and it was the location for one of the folk tales Dennison wrote down: ‘The selkie that dead no’ forget’. ‘Selkie’ is the Orcadian word for seal. The story tells of a Sanday man, Magnus, who came across a mother seal about to give birth. When the pups were born he took them, planning to make a skin waistcoat. However, the strange behaviour of the parent seals was so desperate and ‘human-like’ that he put the seal pups back. Forty years later he was fishing in the same spot and got caught out by the tide. He thought he was sure to be drowned, but just before the water rose over his mouth, he was lifted by his collar and taken to the shore. His rescuer was the mother selkie who he had encountered all those years ago, come to repay him for his kindness. To read the tale in full click here.
Sealcam
Incidentally, this story is set not far from the site of Sanday’s live ‘Sealcam’ a wildlife camera which records the lives of some of Sanday’s Grey seals at pupping time in October-November.
A still image from Sanday Sealcam 17.11.20 © Tris Thorne | Grey seal © Anne Bignall
