Sunday 20th September 2015.

The penguins are in good condition to begin breeding this season.

Hello friends and family.
The first Yellow-eyed penguin egg for the season has been laid. It was laid in our northern- most nest and arrived on 15th September. This is the beginning of a whole new chapter in penguin history. The others are still waiting so it becomes an exercise in patience for the penguins and for us!

On of the few Little penguins breeding here so far this season.

This week brought us our first mild weather and with temperatures over 12 degrees it felt very spring like. On Tuesday Chris, Hiltrun and I went to visit Janice, then on to Oamaru where Hiltrun and I met up with Phillipa from the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony and had a drink at Portside while Chris counted the Stewart Island Shags that have taken to nesting on Sumter Wharf. It may well be their largest colony! There are none nesting at Okahau Point this year – only the Spotted Shags are working on breeding here.

Spotted Shags in breeding finery.

 The bees are active in the garden and on Wednesday, I shifted a hive to a friend’s place in Hampden. This was a first, and when I wanted to secure the hive with a hive strap, I could not make it work. In the end I used some other straps and the whole event went well, with the bees settling fast and I hope they do well there.

Honey bees on plum blossom for the first time here.

All is not well in paradise and the seal pups continue to die.  It is hard to walk past them, knowing that there is nothing that I can do to save them.

Frail pup too weak to suckle.

Nature will get a chance to try again in December when the new pups are born.
Have a great week!

Rosalie