TVB op vakansie na Gough Eiland

[Tom van Brits]

Hello WD's

Yesterday the field workers reported that the guide rope over the second river is shot and need replacement asap. With Winter now approaching and heavy rainfall the last thing you need is the rope breaking and as result ride a natural super-tube down a waterfall up to where the river spit you out into the sea!

So I volunteered and pok man, I forgot how heavy a rope is especially when you need to carry it on a deep muddy and slipper trail. Anyway, got it fixed and used the famous 'follow through' figure of 8 knot. Once done I rolled up all the excess rope and left it for my return trip on the path. Hiked up to Goneydale and wow!! Saw a couple of Tristan Albatross chicks pipping the eggs (they do make sounds - real 'talking eggs'!!) and also saw a very small new born.

Herewith the pictures of my trip:

[Tom van Brits]

Tristan Albatross

[Tom van Brits]

I did find Jaimie up there and she agreed to show me some chicks. Sadly there are already some failed nests due to the mice.

[Tom van Brits]

 

[Tom van Brits]

Very weird colour on this Tristan Albatross beak - I did tell Jaimie that people will think I have saturated the pick but no.....weirdly natural and only on this bird!

[Tom van Brits]

That's it! 

[Ri]

Thanks for the lovely photo's Tom! It opens up a special world.

[woody1]

Fantastic timing.

[Tom van Brits]

This morning the Le Lyrial sailed by and had a radio sketch with Santjie.
One of the most beautiful tourist ships you will see in these waters!

Weather was bad, raining and hazy and the ship was rather far out but I managed some reasonable shots.
Also saw the juvenile Antarctic tern playing in the water 

[zacapa]

Awesome photos Tom 

[BMWPE]

Stunning photos
Thank you

[Sam]

Fantastic photos - thanks for sharing!

That soaked chick does not look overly impressed with its situation.

[Tom van Brits]

Fantastic photos - thanks for sharing!

That soaked chick does not look overly impressed with its situation.

Thanks to all 

Yes Sam the yellownosed chick looked a bit under the weather but sadly also became a victim of the mice and died 2 days later as result. When I hiked out with the rope to the river she was just gone. For a minute I thought to take a photo and share but I could not get myself taking a picture of a dead bird. It is really sad and so many nests have failed this year due to the mice. So yes like said before; that mouse eradication is overdue and I am very excited about the program going ahead to get rid of the little monsters. Mice eat anything, even their own. If we do not clear the snap traps very soon they start eating their own species. At some stage we had to catch mice and keep them life for bait trial runs and there I witnessed the first time that they wait till one of their own is weak and then just start chowing it alive, the same way as they do with the seabird chics. So yes I do hope and many other that the mouse eradication on Gough Island will be a success.

[KiLRoy]

The figure 8 - strongest in the business 

[Tom van Brits]

Little out of the ordinary things that excites our islanders: Today I continued my stocktaking of the medical consumables and looked out the window and there is something that does not belong here, a Cattle Egret! So I carefully slid the window open and fired a couple of shots. Unfortunately the bird did not hang around and took off again. It happens every year around this time and some uncertainty as to why and where but most likely from South America underway to South Africa they say.

Herewith the pics:

[Mr Zog]

Flippen onwettige immigrant!

Bring siektes en pestilensie     


Awesome om so iets te sien! Lekker vinning op die "sneller" met daai kamera 

[Sam]

Fantastic photos - thanks for sharing!

That soaked chick does not look overly impressed with its situation.

Thanks to all 

Yes Sam the yellownosed chick looked a bit under the weather but sadly also became a victim of the mice and died 2 days later as result. When I hiked out with the rope to the river she was just gone. For a minute I thought to take a photo and share but I could not get myself taking a picture of a dead bird. It is really sad and so many nests have failed this year due to the mice. So yes like said before; that mouse eradication is overdue and I am very excited about the program going ahead to get rid of the little monsters. Mice eat anything, even their own. If we do not clear the snap traps very soon they start eating their own species. At some stage we had to catch mice and keep them life for bait trial runs and there I witnessed the first time that they wait till one of their own is weak and then just start chowing it alive, the same way as they do with the seabird chics. So yes I do hope and many other that the mouse eradication on Gough Island will be a success.

Ag no - that is a kak one to hear. Hope the eradicators eradicate the hell out of those little f*ckers.

[Tom van Brits]

Ocean Adventurer visited today - they arrived from South Georgia Island, the no1 place in the world I would ever want to see.

The were anchored in front of Quest bay where Ernest Shackleton also landed on the Rowette expedition. I cannot recall the exact date now but it was around 1921.

The put Zodiacs in the water and boated the passengers up and down Quest and Long beach. They also made a turn at the base briefly but the swell was very bad on our side as can be seen with the attached ship pictures.

I also did go for fishing the late afternoon and was lucky to catch a decent size snoek on handline. Unfortunately only my long lens on the camera and my selfie suck but you will get the idea.

Also baked a lekker bread today, I do not eat bread often but do crave it sometimes and then I bake one 

Have a good weekend! 

[Tom van Brits]

 

[woody1]

Vars brood bly maar lekker.