As a seabird zoologist my first thought is always for feathery creatures with wings (or in the case of penguins, flips!). But whilst the bird season is only just starting - we have had our first 3 grey-head and 1 black-brow sightings and the northern geeps have started making nests - there is still time to enjoy the sight of the seals, aka. squeals!
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| "I am blondie, I am the master of the pingus!" |
The fur seals are starting to increase slightly in numbers; for the most part they really enjoy the ice, scratching on it and sliding around the bays. But there are some that don't seem impressed!
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| "Barrels are more comfortable than ice!" |
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| It's behind you! - This furry isn't happy being on the ice with hungry leps around. |
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| "Stay away!" (the furry survived the leps curiosity) |
Of course how can we mention one lep without looking at some more! The amount of ice still around means we are getting large numbers of them. In fact, we sighted 11 different leps in one day not long ago, a record for this year, and we are getting some of the highest numbers ever recorded.
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| They look so peaceful whilst asleep, but they are very good predators. |
Unfortunately the work with seals isn't all observations and photographs at this time of year. Their diet is also an important line of study and there is only one way to ascertain that!
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| "What are you doing with my poo you silly human?" |
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| Lucy investigating the feathers and bird feet found in a lep poo - such a glamorous job! |
Of course we mustn't forget the third seal species on BI - the ellies! This time of year some big males are just starting to come ashore, awaiting the females arrival who will then give birth before mating again for next seasons pups!
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| The adult males are certainly HUGE! It is great to start seeing them come ashore now. |
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| When you have been on BI for so long we start to loose track of 'normality' and blend in to our new home. On this occasion Lucy decided she would join the ellie fraternity! |
The seals are certainly a very interesting aspect of life on 'Seal' Island, but I think I'll stick to my birdies for now. Won't be long until geep eggs are laid and the penguin breeding seasons begin!
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| James is very happy with his study species - but I have put the word out to my little pingus and soon we will take back the island for the bird world! Mwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! |
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