Conservation project Malgas - the end!

We woke this morning to rain and a wonderful gift on the door step a curious Penguin was having a gander through the front door. They really are gorgeous and very sweet!

Sadly today we are leaving the island. The boat arrived to collect us at 7am along with the replacement crew for Malgas and Jutten island. A quick flit across the bay to Jutten island to drop off the new recruits and collect the old and its back to Mykonos. What a way to start the day, in the afternoon i was back at work, all seems so surreal really!! Wonderful memories.

CLICK HERE to see more pics!

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 5 (Final day)

And just for a change a few more pictures of birds! I cannot believe that 5 days have just flown by, pardon the pun! No Pelicans to report - which is great news.

Actually caught a Kelp gull with an egg in its mouth awhile back, but really there is nothing one can do, frustrating! Oh and i obviosusly got too near a nest as this time the gull actually banged me on the head, i nearly jumped out of my skin, they really are quite aggressive. I think between Heidi and myself we have taken enough pictures to last us a lifetime but you just cant help yourself, these Gannets are magnificent creatures. When you are sitting in the middle of the colony surrounded, you just cant help but click away.

Oh i forgot the main event of the day, i emptied the toilet, that was interesting - i will save the detail. We went for our last patrol this evening with an absolutely magnficant sunset - we are so lucky to be here. Really sad to leave its been a truly wonderful experience.

CLICK HERE to view more pics!

Tomorrow morning we get collected at 7am and its back to the mainland and reality, but i will definately be back. I will never forget this truly magical place.

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 4

We woke up this morning  to the demise of a poor starling killed and eaten by two Kelp gulls, i know these birds as scavengers, i havnt experienced them actually attacking other birds, quite strange.  Finished our first patrol for the morning no Pelicans sighted. There are loads of lovely fluffy babies and as always the colony is a hive of activity.

Yesterday we came across a juvenille Cape Comorant who appeared to have fallen from his nest, he could fly but was very shaky - the poor thing spent the night trying to get back to his parents and this evening Heidi found him dead on the rocks, so sad and there is nothing you can do, nature has to take its course.

Been quite misty here today but not cold, in fact it gives Malgas a different look and feel, really pretty.

Last patrol of the day and we are lucky enough to be able to go right into the middle of the colony. There is a sort of path which the Gannets seem to use as a runway, they are very cumbersome taking off and landing, often just literally splat!

CLICK HERE to view more images

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 3

Time just flies when you are having fun no doubt about it. Today i did a patrol on my own as Heidi volunteered to empty the toilet,  something which i definately wasn't going to argue over. The toilet bucket gets attached to a rope and flushed out into the sea, feel abit sorry for the fish in the area!

No Pelican sightings today which is a relief, in fact no fatalities at all thus far. We had a passing visit from the navy doing a patrol and then a visit from law enforcement to bring us a gas bottle - its been a busy day. In addition we drew some water from the tanks to replenish what we had used, this is rain water used for washing and such things.

The Gannets are fascinationg to watch and i never tire of this. The mornings are quieter but by early evening the Gannets almost swarm over the colony looking for their mates. We saw a terrible fight today between two Gannets obviously over a nesting area, and one poor Gannet went away with a bloody forehead. Generally they appear quite placade and are not bothered by us at all, the Kelp gulls on the other hand as mentioned previously can be quite nasty!

I have managed to stick to Paleo 100% despite Heidi eating yummy rusks and rye bread, i have resisted so far!

CLICK HERE to view more images

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 2

After an excellent nights sleep, how wonderful to wake up to the sound of birds and not the sound of traffic! Still no sign of Pelicans which is a good thing, but the Kelp gulls and Sacred Ibis remain a nuisance. Sadly this afternoon i saw a Kelp gull steal a tiny baby Gannet for its supper, so sad but it's nature i guess.

Our days are wonderful, basically we watch birds all day long! Heidi does a really early morning recky to check that no Peli's have arrived, breakfast and then  we are out on our patrol round the island, well except we cant at this stage get right round as there are too many birds in the way and we dont want to disturb them. I spend quite alot of time on the roof as you have an excellent view point from there over the entire island. In the evening we do our rounds again this time counting all eggs that have been predated by Kelp gulls so far it really hasnt been too bad considering the amount of birds on the island.

Our main focus remains to keep the Pelicans away from the Gannets as best we can as they swallow the Gannet babies whole if they get a chance. To the best of my knowledge this only happens here in South Africa and the reason is due to Pelicans feeding on farmers offal and not fishing like they should, this has apparently now stopped.

Have a look at some of the days sightings here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/MalgasDay2#

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 1

I think i have died and gone to heaven! We arrived on Malgas island this morning round 7.30ish and there are birds everywhere! There are about 80000 Gannets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Gannet as well as Cormorant's, Common Terns, Penguins, Kelp gulls even Pigeons. There are no other people except myself and Heidi on the island and all these wonderful birds, heaven, i think i mentioned that already!

The island is really quite small you can get round it in about 40 minutes and you can see over most of it from the roof of the outside toilet! Ah yes the facilities are pretty basic, outside loo which has to be emptied once a day and no running water but hey who needs luxury when you are a survivor!!

No Pelicans spotted today but the Kelp gulls are a real problem as well. We saw them kill what we thought was a baby cormorant but could have been a baby pigeon it was horrible. They dive bomb us when you get to close to them and one even dropped a nice present on me, grrrrr, in addition they steal the Gannets eggs and obviously eat them we counted at least 4 today. These Kelp gulls are really quite aggressive, they try and scare the birds off the nest so they can steal their eggs or small babies! I tell you its wild out here but i am loving it!

Have a look at our life on the island here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/2010103002#

Back in the game!

Joining http://www.capecrossfit.com/  earlier in the year to achieve my fitness goals has been a lot harder than i anticipated. Initially the dread of getting up in the winter months and struggling so hard to do the workouts i often wondered if it was all worth it, but it has really paid off! Warning - this gym is not for sissies! After 6 months of perseverance i am definitely reaping the benefits, I even  managed to enter and finish a 5km fun run totally unbelievable for me!!

With Jobst my trainer finishing the race!

The current challenge at the gym besides exercise is an eating plan one which i am whole heartily taking part of - its called the Paleo Diet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet and is actually really nice once you get the hang of it!  Basically no carbs, no diary just natural protein, fruit and veg, yum! I have to say even in week 3 i miss sugar big time but i substitute with lots of fruit which helps! I will post my achievements after the 8 week period and then you can watch me grow fat as i re indulge in my great weakness, cheesecake!

Back to reality

Well after a year of travel and constant change, i have returned to what is normal for most and possibly mundane for me! However it appears mundane is not to be, even though work plays a part.  On the left is a picture taken from my new apartment - not too shabby i can tell you!

See travels here!
http://suebramhall.blogspot.com/

April is a wonderful time in Cape Town, the days are getting shorter but the weather is fantastic, comfortably warm so you can still don your summer gear, but require a jumper later in the evening!

Waterfront, nooks and crannies!

I think most of us associate the Waterfront with shopping but there is so much more!!!!

Taking a camera and putting on our tourist hats we ventured out from Quay 4 heading along to the Clock Tower by way of the swing Bridge. This area has gorgeous architecture and  an abundance of history. We stumbled upon an African curio shop which had the most unusual and beautiful carvings of which i haven't seen since i was in Alaska. Crossing over the swing bridge to the Clock Tower you are presented with the most stupendous views of both the Victoria and Alfred basin as well as Table Mountain, you cant help but realise that this is definitely a little piece of heaven!

With this on my doorstep, i may just be able to live with the mundane for now!

Click below to see some great pics!

http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Waterfront?authkey=Gv1sRgCKH-7dm8jNOYNw#slideshow/5464822719719488594

Africa 2010 - after a spectacular 2009

Its amazing how time flies when you're having fun - I cannot believe that i have been home for 7 weeks already! As mentioned previously the weather is gorgeous and there is always loads to do.

Hiking and walking - just across the road from Mom and Dad's house is a lovely mountain range which offers unlimited hikes and walks and so this happens on a regular basis, the scenery from up there really is stupendous!

Crayfishing - this happens every couple of days but is very weather dependant. Great fun, and its interesting to see what gets pulled up in the net from sea snakes to sharks, crabs and of course crayfish. Everything gets put back in the sea except the right sized crayfish! Our last outing I got a lesson in driving the boat, after I had driven over and lost one net and one glove, I was surprised that I didn't get tossed overboard! see pics http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Dec09Kleinmond#

Stoney point - this is a Penguin colony down the road from Kleinmond which used to be an old whaling station ('orrible) but is now a lovely spot with a wooden walkway and great penguin viewing! see pics http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Dec09Stoney
PointBettysBay#

A couple of trips to Cape Town always makes a nice change of scene, seeing friends, going to movies and dinners, very nice. We ventured out to Franschoek with Ants family for a picnic which was really nice, although i had a terrible cold at the time!

http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Dec09PicnicAtRiversideFranschoek#


Ant and i ventured out for a day in Greyton which is a lovely little village about an hours drive from Kleinmond, really pretty and then another day a picnic out near Franschoek again more fantastic scenery!

Moving onto Christmas day, what a brilliant day, the only down side being that my brother wasn't with us but we managed to wire him up via Skype to participate and watch the present opening after Church which was really special, boy do we miss him! Christmas is always great with the kids and there is a constant state of euphoria through out the day. Since my nephews have been here i have even taken to playing cricket, the mind boggles, even my mother has been playing, actually great fun, check out the pics!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Dec09Christmas#

Post Boxing day - the resident Kleinmonders came round for sunset drinks and snacks which turned out to be a bit of a blast - good fun!
http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Dec09DayAfterBoxingDay#

And so another year ends, although this year was very special to me, as surreal as it seems I have moved around the world met so many special and interesting people and it will take a lot to beat that, so lets see what 2010 delivers! Something very special that it will deliver is my little brother moving to Cape Town from Bahrain, cant wait - we are all very busy trying to sort his house out before he arrives tomorrow - 8th Jan 09!!!!

Wishing you all a fulfilling 2010, whatever you do, just do it!!