At Skalanes we now have approximately 25 Puffins on the sea cliffs and we counted another 30 on the sea. We do not have many areas of suitable slopes for them to make their burrows (yes they burrow rather than making nests on the surface!) so it is unlikely that the population will get much larger than that.
As well as the Puffins we got another new member of the team today. Early evening Izzy and I got a phone call from Oli to ask if we had eaten. We replied no and Oli asked us if we would like to grab a pizza in town. We thought this sounded like a great idea....oh, but could we also pick up a rooster in a box at his house on the way past! Most people, using the words 'rooster' and 'box' in the same sentence are talking about Keloggs breakfast cereal. When Oli mentions the words 'rooster', 'box' and 'collect' in the same sentence he does actually mean he has a rooster in a box that he wants us to collect!!
Some ladies will be joining the rooster later in the week to allow us to have fresh eggs over the season and it is likely that one or two will disappear around the time of special events. And thus Chicken Clan will be formed!
Another surprise was the discovery of a Wren by the sea cliffs. Not normally known for living in such an exposed area we hope the hardy wee soul finds a partner. He seems to be living in a boulder slope, so plenty of nice places to build a nest and find insects. (See if you can find him in the photo below)
Some photos from the reserve:
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| The afore mentioned ´rooster in a box`who has since been christened ´Rupert`as he is the only member of the Chicken Clan who has a fighting chance of surviving the season without becoming soup! |
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| Lundi / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) |
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| The centre at Skalanes |
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| Skalanes, with the Eider ponds in the foreground |
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| The ridge behind the centre is a brilliant spot to look out over the lower reserve |
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| Try and spot the Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes islandicus) |
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| Fulmarus glacialis |
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