A tourist, Nickolas Wiegand, had an unexpected encounter with what he believes to be the infamous Loch Ness Monster while reviewing his holiday photos at Scotland’s Loch Ness. Wiegand, a visitor from the US, was on a tour bus exploring the picturesque Scottish Highlands when he captured footage and pictures of the scenic landscape. Despite recording extensively during the trip, it wasn’t until later that he noticed a peculiar detail in his photos.
On May 18 at around 10:14 am, while by the waters of Loch Ness, Wiegand stumbled upon what he thought resembled the Loch Ness Monster in his images. He explained that due to time constraints on the tour, he had been focused on his camera’s viewfinder rather than observing the lake directly, only discovering the mysterious figure during a post-tour review.
Upon scrutinizing the footage, Wiegand identified a large, unidentified object emerging from the water at a considerable distance from the shore. Describing it as “something mysterious and unknown,” he emphasized the dark image breaking the water’s surface as the bus passed by.
This sighting marks the fifth reported encounter with the Loch Ness Monster in 2026. Wiegand joins a list of recent witnesses, including Holly Palmer, Scott McMillan, Margaret Sunstrum, Joan Sweeney, and Sara Gubicza, who have all reported sightings of the elusive creature. The official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register for 2026 includes their testimonies, with Wiegand’s account adding to the growing number of reported sightings this year.
In addition, Sasha Lake also captured footage of what he believes was the monster on the same day as Wiegand, though his sighting has yet to be documented on the register. The increasing number of reported sightings in 2026 follows a trend of six sightings in 2025, indicating a heightened interest and intrigue surrounding the legendary Loch Ness Monster.
