Memoirs of an Islander: It all happens in the last minute

Now I'm sure it is understandable that not every week on the island is going to be action packed and crammed full of adventure. After all, this is our home, and not every day at home is filled with excitement. But this blog gives me incentive to go in search of some sort of adventure and a good story to tell. More so than the usual. The stuff that may start to become mundane for all of us here I figure is still pretty exciting in the grander scheme of things. Definitely helps me not to take it for granted!
So this week was fairly dull in retrospect. But I think I have something that may be of interest. Took a little outing to Seal Beach to check up on the penguin chicks and the seal pups :)

Firstly a quick wrap up of the week that has just passed.
Nothing too exciting. Been tinkering away in the workshop on a chair I am making. Started ages ago and taking my time. No real rush to get it finished. Getting some carpentry skills. Our mechanic/handyman/inventor/bob the builder, Marius, has been helping me out and teaching me how to do things. Been a huge help with the chair. It sounds pretty basic. But it's the small details that make the difference. Seem to spend a fair amount of time in the workshop, or as it is better known; "The brown store". No idea why?!
Always good heading down and having a chat with the Marius and seeing what he is working on and trying to learn something new. It's the sort of thing that interests me.

Scrap wood cut to size for my chair

Chair finally taking shape

Then it's just been work work work! Have to do what I have been sent here to do, and that is observe the weather. More info on that at a later stage. Although we did give our one office a major clean up. Long overdue!

Took a wander down to seal beach with our field biologists one sunny day to sit and wait for some penguins to come in with GPS tracking units that were strapped to them. This is part of the work the biologists have to do for the Royal Society Protection of Birds in the U.K. So that meant sitting on the rocks all day and watching the penguins come in. Also meant time to catch a nap on and catch up on my reading. Was a great time to think a few things through and just get in touch with what is going on. Proved to be a very effective time of contemplation. Get lost very easily when you have limited contact with the real world. Feels like you on permanent holiday.

Had couple days of rain which kept us indoors for a fair amount of time. Also gave plenty opportunity to do some research into things and sit and watch a couple episodes of Lie to Me". One of our favourite island pastimes. Series and movies! Hey, can you blame us. Not like we can just nip out and grab coffee with our mates ;)
Also had a day when communications were down. Not the end of the world. We had our trust radio technician, Leonard was on it right away and managed to restore the phones by evening, and had the internet up again the next morning. A beer was good reward for the effort he put in. Thanks Leo!
Also had a family movie night. Oceans 11 was up on the projector for all to enjoy. Some enjoyed a game of pool and glass of wine instead. Needless to say, we didn't hear much from them the next morning. Ha ha!

That's a brief summary of the week.
Now for the more interesting stuff.

Figured it was about a month ago that the penguin chicks started hatching and it was time to check on there progress. But, it also turns out that the seals have also started to pup!

Hatching Egg (Note the beak coming from the egg)

Northern Rock Hopper Penguins. Adults, with day old chicks.

Seal beach is one of my favourite places. I just can't get enough of the penguins. But to get through to the penguins you now have to walk through a sea of seals. Now these seals sound like dogs barking and also look like Alsatians in terms of colouring. Well, some of them at least. With it being time for them to pup they have all come to the beach and are waiting. Walking across the rocks can be rather treacherous with seals all around you, and some weighing close to 100kg. With a nasty temper and sharp teeth it can be rather frightening. That's why we take a wooden pol with. Just in case they do start getting feisty. A gentle nudge normally helps persuade them to move along. Still got to be careful, cause those teeth aren't something to be laughed at.

Subantarctic Fur Seals lining the beach.

Managed to make my way across and found one of the pups staring out from under the rocks. Cutest little thing I have seen. Fluffy and black! Will wait till next month once there a few more and I have to go out and weigh them. That will be done each month until we leave. Should be fun. Especially doing so amongst so many grumpy adults. Fortunately we have already weighed them at there heaviest. Now it is a slow increase until they grow some teeth and it becomes a real challenge.

Seal Pup. Only a couple days old. "It's so fluffy I could die"


Sleeping on the grassy bank (Subantarctic Fur Seal adult)

Once I made it through the sea of "Swimming Alsatians" I managed to scramble up to the rocks where the penguins have been breeding. The chicks have grown up a fair bit in the past month and are walking around comfortably and gathering in groups protected by an adult. Seems to be a nursery going for the chicks.
Will be monitoring there progress.

Chick after one month.

The "nursery" with adult protecting them.

As for the week, that sums it up. Just penguins, seals and rain. Fortunately no drama in and around the base. We like to keep it that way!

Till next week.
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