Saturday 17th November
So I had my trip today. Part of the welfare package here means that you get to go on helicopter trips to various part of the island. Their department is heli-tasking, and in order to get on a trip you put in a heli-bid. If i mention those terms again, that's what I'm on about.
Today I was going to Sea Lion Island, which is the far south east island, with three different types of penguins, elephant seals, sea lions and killer whales. The flight was about 30 minutes and not only was I the only girl, but I was the only lone passenger. Our shift pattern gives quite a sad and lonely detachment really. Most of the other units work Monday to Friday then Saturday mornings, so their days off are altogether. But as we are 24/7, my days off are by myself. (In fact, I have the roster as far as the end of January, and James and I don't have a single day off together for the entire time!! More on that another time, don't want to be a grumpy moaner!!) anyway, at the last minute a young family boarded the helicopter, took pity on me, and invited me along with them for the day.
The helicopter dropped us off around 1215 and we had until 1630 on the island. Everyone else stayed in the vicinity of the lodge, but the family and I decided to trek down to the south west of the island to Rockhopper Point, in search of the rockhopper penguins. The walk took about and hour and twenty, with two young boys in tow, but I recon 45 minutes would probably be plenty otherwise. I'm really glad we went, the rockhoppers are my favorite (so far!!) They are so small, about the size of a standard duck, and really cute. We were so close I could have stroked one if I wanted, but probably best not to!! Rockhoppers are the ones with yellow tufts in my photos.
It was another day of glorious sunshine, barely a cloud in the sky. Even with factor 30 I think I am a little burnt!
We then walked back along the cliff edge, admiring the wildlife. We saw a Caracara bird, which is one of the most endangered birds of prey in the world, but they are apparently like pests out here!! None of the birds seems afraid of us, and would come really close by.
We went down to Elephant point, and got to see some baby seals. So cute! The place was swarming with Magellanic penguins, apparently the ugliest ones, but I quite liked them. They are the striped ones in the photos. Also there were lots of colonies of gentoos, who have their eggs laid and some had been hatched as well! They look like standard small penguins in the pics.
After the trip the mover guy who arranged it invited me to their invite only bar this evening, so I shall go there for a few drinks in a little while.
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