December 19, 2006
Merry xmas, more Surprise photos
In the run-up to Christmas madness, I haven't managed any more birding trips, with a confiding Black Woodpecker (Pic noir) on campus, and 2 Water Pipits (Pipit spioncelle) seen while out running around the Bassin de Bures being the highlights. I hosted a photo-swapping dinner with fellow Surprise Island survivors Xim (XC), Elodie (EG) and Stéphane (SC), who just yesterday was awarded his PhD for his work on the island, with honours and the highest commendation of the jury - congratulations Dr Caut! For your viewing pleasure, and to tide the blog over until I get myself a new camera, I've uploaded a selection of their photos from the island (copyright them, obviously). Merry Christmas all, and here's to a bird-filled 2007!
Bat out of hell, or young Lesser Frigatebird? (XC)
Face to face (EG)
Inquisitive young Red-footed Booby (EG)
Xim, who spent more time on the beach than us (working, allegedly), managed to capture this young Masked Booby at feeding time (XC)
Masked Booby and nosey neighbour (XC)
The 'making of' all those Masked Booby sunset shots (XC).
Steph and I de-ticking a young Brown Booby (EG).
After a day in the field, it wasn't just the birds that needed de-ticking! (XC)
Not for the faint-hearted, these shots. The burden of ticks on some of the chicks was enormous (SC).
In case you thought life was a beach on the island... poor Stephane was unfortunately hyper-sensitive to tick bites (XC).
Elodie laying rat traps to check if last year's eradication had worked (SC).
Apparently so: the only things we caught were hermit crabs (SC)!
Cutting transects through the island wasn't easy... (EG)
Pretending to enjoy a vegetation survey while being attacked by ticks and barbed plant seeds (SC).
A real monster-sized hermit crab attacking a coconut (the smaller one was as big as my hand) (XC).
A two-faced ghost crab (XC).
Smiling for the camera (XC).
Lost, season 4? (XC)
Washing up, Surprise Island style (SC).
How not to cook spaghetti (XC).
Luckily for me, this sign was correct! (EG)
All smiles after our Kagu encounter (EG).
