Sinatra

Two days ago a new pup was born. This mom has been tracked for years by researchers on the Isle, and likes to take her pups away from the crowded beaches to raise them in peace and quiet. Usually she goes uphill to the ruins of the monastery, but this year she choose the base of the hill. This is her pup, who stricks me as a Sinatra (Frank :) ). The first two pictures are of Sinatra just a few hours after birth, the last from this morning. They grow up so fast!

Interview

One of the pups was curious with my equipment again...but mom had to come and make sure it was safe first. She came right up to the microphone and was very talkative, a perfect interview!

Crying pup

Poor pup cried and cried, but mom was away for a swim. Had to just take a nap instead.

The Isle

Here are some shots of the Isle....it is about a mile long, and 1/3 wide. Lots of rocky coast that the seals and birds love. And two lighthouses. A beautiful place! I had loads I tried to post at once, but blogspot did not want to digest them. I will save them for another day!

Sock Pup-pets

Before: 1 week old

Grey seal pups have an intensive maternal care period; over the course of 18-21 days they are weaned and their mothers leave them to go back to sea. To make this feasible, they have to gain a kilo or two every day. When they are young, their skin hangs loose to make room for all the fat they are going to build up. They look almost like a puppet. But once they gain the weight, they can hardly move they are so tubby!

After: somewhere between 3-4 weeks old.

Sunrise and Sunset on the Isle

The moon is beautiful at sunset from here :)

Sunny days

Today was another wonderfully sunny day, not a cloud in sight. It is very unseasonally warm, I am very spoiled spending my days sitting in the sun watching seal pups. A few of them looked very content sleeping in the sun today.



This mom hiked her way up a hill, and looked lovely against the blue sky. In the background you can see the lighthouse.