By Tim Binnall
Just days before a massive search for the creature is set to commence, the fourth Loch Ness Monster sighting of 2023 has been added to the official register of reports. The most recent possible glimpse of the famed cryptid reportedly occurred last Thursday afternoon as witness Steve Valentine, who resides in the British town of Urmston, was vacationing at the iconic Scottish site with his family. As many visitors to the location are wont to do, they partook in a cruise on Loch Ness and, as the journey was coming to a close, spotted something rather unusual. Describing the anomaly as "a black shape in the water," Valentine recalled that the sighting happened "when we were returning to the dock near to Urquhart Castle."
Although the oddity eventually left his line of sight as the boat continued onward, the bewildered witness was able to snap a photo (which can be seen here) of the possible creature. He subsequently submitted his on-site account to the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register, which found the report credible enough to add to their tally for the year. The timing of the sighting is somewhat ironic as scores of people are set to descend upon Loch Ness this coming weekend for what will be the largest search for Nessie in over 50 years. To that end, one hopes that Valentine's experience will be replicated for some of the spotters surrounding the site in a few days and that it wasn't an indication that Nessie got the date wrong.