Sunday 15th August 2021

Having a day at home, but, who are they?

​Hello friends and family
The week started off very chilly, and it was hard to get motivated to do anything much. As time went by, the temperatures warmed up and so we did get some jobs done. One of them was to rip the cupboards out of the laundry, in preparation for new shelves which will be wide enough to hold the penguin gear.

A large visitor - NZ sealion

​Soon, the joiner will come and measure up for the new bench, on which I will be able to prepare food and meds for the penguins in care. Our current patient has completed his antibiotics and Malarone so will be able to go as soon as he is up to weight.

Broad billed Prions felled by a mustelid

​During the week, the team completed the winter planting, just in time for the plants to get a nice shower on Thursday night. I have put the Kakabeaks destined for spring planting in a penguin pen to harden up and the hothouse is almost empty. I am going to spray it out this winter as the aphids moved in last summer so that was not ideal.
The penguins are not coming home early this winter. I hear them down the hill at about 5 pm, I think the dirty water has made them swim further out for a feed. It is finally starting to show signs of clearing up after months of rough seas.

Nest building has begun for the Shags

Yesterday I went to Oamaru in the morning for my first COVID jab. I was not scheduled to get it for another month but phoned and got it brought forward. Hiltrun and Elaine did the rounds down here and in the process, met up with Bruce McInlay and so he and his wife joined us for a cuppa. In the afternoon we did the rounds at Okahau and cleared some more broken trees.
Have a great week!
Rosalie