Me, at the 'office' - counting with a difference! 
Nemo, looking young fat and healthy!Life on Brownsman for the wardens of the Farne Islands continues as we approach the first week since the Autumnwatch team departed these rocky shores. Life hasn't changed much, as we're going about our daily work and the Seals are getting on with raising young pups (and the wind continues to blow...). Its the height of the pupping season at this moment and the team are out counting today (and tomorrow). The volume of Seal pups results in a two day count to mark and count all the pups across the Farne Islands and news of the latest count, complete with updates of Nemo, Lucky and Archie will be bought to you all soon.
Despite the huge colonies of Seals scattered across the islands, its the small colony on the north end of Brownsman which I visit daily, just to keep a careful eye on Nemo and co. It's been an interesting start to life for little Nemo and what a life he has had (after only three weeks). He's had it all, swimming lessons at three days old, his mother driven off by another female before being accepted by yet another cow seal. Its been a turbulent start to life but he's nearly there. Little Nemo isn't so little these days and he's almost there. The white fur coat is gradually moulting away and his independent life is just around the corner. The day he leaves the shore of Brownsman will be a day of mixed feelings. I'll miss this little character, his crazy upbringing, but I'll be so relived that he has made it this far. Hand on heart, I didn't expect to bring good news but we're nearly there, just a few more days. Fingers crossed for little (or not so-little) Nemo. How the other seal pups are coping, only time will tell, but the lack of big northerly storms is helping the pups survive. Lets hope it stays that way.
Otherwise its all quiet on Brownsman as the dark nights close-in and bird migration starts dwindling away. The hustle and bustle of Farnes life is ebbing away for another year and it won't just be the Seals leaving soon, as the wardens prepare to head for the mainland for the winter. However it's not over yet, we've still got some seals to count.
Despite the huge colonies of Seals scattered across the islands, its the small colony on the north end of Brownsman which I visit daily, just to keep a careful eye on Nemo and co. It's been an interesting start to life for little Nemo and what a life he has had (after only three weeks). He's had it all, swimming lessons at three days old, his mother driven off by another female before being accepted by yet another cow seal. Its been a turbulent start to life but he's nearly there. Little Nemo isn't so little these days and he's almost there. The white fur coat is gradually moulting away and his independent life is just around the corner. The day he leaves the shore of Brownsman will be a day of mixed feelings. I'll miss this little character, his crazy upbringing, but I'll be so relived that he has made it this far. Hand on heart, I didn't expect to bring good news but we're nearly there, just a few more days. Fingers crossed for little (or not so-little) Nemo. How the other seal pups are coping, only time will tell, but the lack of big northerly storms is helping the pups survive. Lets hope it stays that way.
Otherwise its all quiet on Brownsman as the dark nights close-in and bird migration starts dwindling away. The hustle and bustle of Farnes life is ebbing away for another year and it won't just be the Seals leaving soon, as the wardens prepare to head for the mainland for the winter. However it's not over yet, we've still got some seals to count.
5 comments:
Goodness me Nemo looks so well no longer a white fluffy thing - how wonderful that he has survived with all the odds definately stacked against him - he must be a born survivor for sure , Lucky was always Lucky as he had a good start in life , sounds as if the weather is better for all concerned . I meant to say earlier the photos taken by Alex of the birds are especially really good .Thank you so much for a 'Archie' mention all this is going in the baby box !! I shall miss this blog when you leave - when is that ? where do you both go now is it to somewhere else where seals are involved or something totally different ?
Looking forward to more updates and do hope the weather is kind for you and the pups these next few days . regards from the 2Archies Nan
Hi David
Really great working with you and Alex up there. Also missing the workshop- Better than the London tube commute each morning!... could do with an axe in this edit suit too.
All the best,
Matt
Hi David
Really great working with you and Alex up there. Also missing the workshop- Better than the London tube commute each morning!... could do with an axe in this edit suit too.
All the best,
Matt
Thanks for the updates on Nemo, Lucky and the other pups, and for all the other wildlife updates on here. I will certainly miss them when you vacate Brownsman for the winter!
I have linked to this blog on my Gordon Buchanan Facebook group too, so everyone who is signed up there can also keep up with the news.
Thanks everyone, keep on reading and I'll keep you all posted on the latest news. We don't leave here until early December so plenty more to come. Thanks for your comments Matt (Matt was the editor on Brownsman for Autumnwatch) and it must be a shock to leave Brownsman for London!! As for me, when I do leave, I'm still employed by the National Trust Farne Islands so plenty more work to do, as I'll be getting ready to do it all over again next spring...
Thankyou for reading
David Steel
Head Warden
Farne Islands
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