The mainland you say?

Well it has been another busy week over here on the islet. With less team around it has meant we’ve just kept things down to the basics… daily nest checks, data entry and of course fitted in a couple of mist netting half nights too. The last one was yet another stunning night!

We have now welcomed Verónica who is a researcher from The University of the Azores and has worked on this islet in previous years. It is great to have some insight from someone who knows more of the ‘goings on’ on the islet.

The breeding season is definitely underway in earnest now with both tern eggs being found across patches of the islet! Not to mention the stormies laying too!! For the terns, this has meant that it is time for the annual tern counts around ‘mainland’ Graciosa as well as across the islet. So I got my first taste of mainland life as we transitioned from the small park boat to a larger boat… I found joy and excitement over many little things… bicycles, cars, toilets that don’t wobble and actually flush, a tap that actually works… let alone the ice cream and local pastries :).

It was really interesting being able to see the whole of Graciosa from the sea! So many different and incredible fault lines to be spotted in the cliffs. Let alone trying to count numerous gulls or terns! Despite inheriting my dad’s ability to stomach boat motion, I think I was probably the only one not to feel it much! And thoroughly enjoyed my (white chocolate cookie pieces magnum) ice cream (once back on the mainland before getting back to the islet!).

The look of someone who hasn’t seen a bicycle in 7 weeks… (Photograph: Sara Roda)
A Cory’s shearwater
Praia Islet in the background
Tern nest census

So, although I was very glad to be back on the islet amongst the near constant wildlife noise, I’m looking forward to having a proper weekend off (my first time off the islet since I arrived at the end of April!) and catching up on some r and r!

Since writing about last week, I did indeed make it over to the mainland. And have very much enjoyed the many perks of mainland life, but also do miss the wildlife noise and slower pace of islet life. Over my long weekend I’ve said goodbye to one assistant and welcomed another :). As well as finding trees, enjoying ice cream, and taking time to mostly stop and rest!

Trees!!!!
The path less trod…

After somewhat uncertainty if we could make it over to the islet due to the waves, we made it safely over yesterday – and it is great to be immersed back into the wild-peace of islet life. We ended our first day back with a beautiful mist netting session – catching another Bulwer’s petrel!!!!! amongst a few Monteiro’s storm-petrels and Cory’s shearwaters :).