The Littlest Penguin

Okay - finally some faces for the site! Will try to get some of Kyle & I also, but it really is not Mike's inclination to take family photos while touring - he constantly seems to have his artistic eye at work. On Monday evening as we strolled along the Mandurah waterfront with GL & Marucia, he continued to spout 'that would be a great shot' while visually framing photos with his fingers - even though he did not have his camera with him!!!

As for todays' entries... On Sunday Kyle had a rendezvous with school pals, so the 4 of us headed over to Penguin Island to check it out. The ferry ride is very short (some people even waded across the sand bar although there are warnings that it can be dangerous). The island is one of several which form a marine protected strip running along the coast off of Rockingham (about a 1/2 hour north of Mandurah) - Rottnest is actually a continuation of this same ridge. This is the only island in this set which you may land on. The islands are limestone and are being eroded away at sea level by wave action. As a result, the shore is quite rugged and full of caves and interesting formations.

We took a boat tour around the islands here to see the native life. Male sealions hang out here normally, but right now they are up north for mating season visiting the females. They will return in a couple of months (and we likely will too). A few straglers remain, so we were able to see this one fellow as he 'worked on his figure' to fatten up for the females next time. Mike caught this guys only action as he moved up the beach to get away from the waves as the tide came in. Apart from this move, he just looked like a great big rock.

The island is also home to many cormorants and several other sea birds. There is a pelican breeding ground also, but it is cordoned off from visitors, so Mike wasn't able to get any photos. We also saw bridled terns (look a lot like an arctic tern, but with slightly different markings - these ones look like they are wearing a bridle). They were here today, but would most likely migrate out the next day as the full moon arrived - very timely that we saw them.

And of course, there are penguins. There are Little Penguins (aka Fairy Penguins or Blue Penguins) nesting here - although they are nocturnal, so you do not see them out during the day. There is a penguin exhibit where they nurse penguins which would not survive if released. There are currently 10, and we caught their feeding. Very little penguins - they only stand 40 cm high. The ones shown here are fully grown.

Well, it is now Tuesday and having spent Monday showing off Mandurah, George & Marucia have now rented a car and are visiting Freemantle for the day. We will spend this evening together, and tomorrow they are heading off for a trip to Albany/south coast/ Margaret River. We will be gone when they return, so our time was short & sweet - but a great visit and it was wonderful to hear a Canadian accent!! Not sure we'll get another post in before our trip up north, and not sure whether we will have network connectivity - so we'll catch up at the end of April.

So cheers for now, Happy Easter all and no worries!