Thu-8-Oct-2009 - spring, winter, spring

Last weekend was a long one as monday was a public Holiday (peat cutting monday). In the past most heating and cooking in the falklands islands used solid fuel PEAT, dug out of the ground and each house hold did this there selves.

Saturday went down to the airport to look for BAIRD'S SANDPIPER that alan had reported in the morning, but due to the night before and taking family to see ice age 3,Did not get out until late. They were not there .

Sunday went down to cape pembroke to see what was around , Which is when found oiled rockhopper penguin. Also off shore were lots of SOOTY SHEARWATERS and pos one WHITE CHINNED PETREL. Saw a pair of magellanic Oystercatchers change over sitting duties. Also saw one SOUTHERN  CARACARA.

On monday in falling snow went out along the north camp road as far as Teal inlet, then to Johnsons harbour.

My weekend list; UPLAND GEESE,RUDDY-HEADED GEESE, KELP GEESE, ROCK SHAG, KING SHAG, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, FALKLAND THRUSH, DARK-FACED GROUND TYRANT, LONG-TAILED MEADOW LARK, BLACK-THROATED FINCH, BLACKISH OYSTERCATCHER, TURKEY VULTURE, KELP GULL, DOLPHIN GULL, BROWN-HOODED GULL, SOUTH AMERICAN TERN(First of season), FALKLAND FLIGHTLESS STEAMER DUCK, FLYING STEAMER DUCK, CREASTED DUCK, SPECKLED TEAL, SILVER TEAL, CHILEO WIGEON, ROFOUS-CHESTERED DOTTEREL, TWO BANDED PLOVER, MAGELLANIC SNIPE, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL, WHITE-TUFTED GREBE, HOUSE SPARROW, PALE-FACED SHEATHBILL(c25 in a group prob getting ready to head south) and VARIABLE HAWK(light and dark phase male, light phase female and light phase juvenile), MAGELLANIC PENGUIN, GENTOO PENGUIN, ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN and JUVENILE SOUTHERN SEALION. All apart from chileo wigeon and brown-hooded gull with in 10 minute drive of home(Stanley).