Like the Swallows of Capistrano . . .

In case you have trouble telling them apart
Manatee on left, Mermaid on right

The Manatees return to the Chesapeake. A rare manatee sighting in Chesapeake Bay waters

No, that’s not a mermaid.

Environmental officials say a manatee has been spotted basking in the warm waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network confirmed the sighting over the weekend on St. Mary’s River near where the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay converge.

Lower Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks said the river’s salinity this year has been unusually high, attracting dolphins, bullsharks, skate and crabs. He nearly forgot manatees have been known to pass through these waters, too.

“It’s an amazing area that’s part of the Chesapeake Bay,” Naujoks said. “It’s not surprising that we have abundant wildlife coming in and feeding and breeding and spending time in these waters.”
. . .
A young manatee named “Ilya” was spotted in 2009 in a marina near Havre de Grace, The Baltimore Sun reported at the time. Another Florida manatee named “Chessie” — after one of Maryland’s favorite cryptids — has enjoyed visiting the Chesapeake Bay since as far back as 1994. He is credited with helping the Maryland Department of Natural Resources develop the first federal set of protocols for northern-bound manatee strandings and rescues.

USA Today,  'It's what we do': Florida manatee caught in pound net rescued, freed by Virginia Marine Police

The Virginia Marine Police rescued a manatee stranded in a pound net on Sunday afternoon at the mouth of the Rappahannock River in the Chesapeake Bay.

Paddleboarders reported seeing a manatee caught in a pound net near Windmill Point Marina on Aug. 27 around noon. Officer Neil Gunter of the Virginia Marine Police quickly responded and found the manatee swimming freely within the pound net without any signs of distress.

The manatee's health was assessed by Officer Gunter, who contacted the Virginia Stranding Team for assistance in devising a safe rescue plan for the animal. The officer secured his patrol vessel to the pound net and monitored the manatee's health and behavior. He also contacted the pound net owner during this time.
. . .
Officer Gunter and the pound net owner lowered the fishing gear at 2 p.m. The manatee swam out without harm and continued its journey out of the Chesapeake Bay.

A manatee was spotted enjoying the water near Windmill Point in a video posted on social media. It is unknown if this was the same manatee that was rescued from a net on Sunday.

I still regret not seeing the Chessie when she made his visit to Flag Harbor back in 2011.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Salma Hayek up on time at The Other McCain.