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Wednesday - newest addition of the red tail tropic bird
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date: 27/8/2008
Author:Laura Smith - Poem by Jess Howard
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Fine, mostly sunny with occasional cloudy periods | Air Temp: 22.7 | Wind: SE 10/15 knots | Water Temp: 21°C | Water Visibility: ~ 20m | Sea State: Calm
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Today is an exciting day here on Lady Elliot Island – as we’re introduced to the newest addition of the red tail tropic bird population, who hatched late yesterday afternoon. This is the very first tropic bird chick of the season. Environmental Manager Jenni says that this breeding pair is new to Lady Elliot; no nests have been recorded in its location outside Suite 4 in previous years. This is fantastic news, it suggests that numbers of nesting tropic birds here are still on the rise. Some lucky guests were the first to sight little “Sebastian” this morning, and were rewarded with some great shots of the day-old juvenile. …….. Stay tuned for photos of Sebastian!
The island seems to be teeming with life today, both in water and out. –
New guests arriving to the resort today were treated to the sight of humpback whales spouting just past the reef rim of the lagoon, literally as they were being shown to their rooms. Whales have also been putting on a show past the northern end of the runway.
Excited guests, including two children aged just 7 and 8, have reported swimming with four feeding manta rays at lighthouse bommies. “They are just so elegant and majestic and… wow!” What an experience for a 7-year-old, not to mention the rest of us! Lively radio calls have been going back and forth between skippers and island staff this morning, with reports of “mantas everywhere…. about 20 feeding in Coral Gardens”.
This morning’s SCUBA dive proved to be another epic underwater adventure with the lucky divers encountering not one, but two silvertip reef sharks on their emergence from The Blowhole.
Over the western side of the island a large White-Bellied Sea Eagle makes an impressive silhouette against the azure sky, as it circles on the island thermals.
… Just another one of many postcard days here on Lady Elliot Island!
Special Events / Activities:
The first red tailed tropic bird of the season hatched!! (See Critter Encounters)
Special Guests:
Happy 7th Birthday for yesterday to Jaslyn Potter, birthday celebrations were had in the Lagoon Restaurant with all the resort guests joining in!!
Cerise and Sebastian
27.08.08
This morning when LEI opened its eyes
It was granted with a beautiful, pleasant surprise.
For under the bushes in front of Suite 4,
Our tropic bird family welcomed one more.
A tiny being hatched from its egg case
Into this wonderful exciting place.
Activities girls of course were excited
And we’re positive Cerise, it’s mother’s delighted.
After more than 2 months of anticipation
We’re so pleased to welcome this new sensation.
After plenty of thinking and going insane,
We’ve finally concluded on the most suiting name.
Tropic birds, though beautiful, majestic and grand,
Are a little bit clumsy when trying to land.
So named after our pilots who like to “crash in”
The birthday boy, young Sebastian
Welcome to the world little Tropic bird,
There’s plenty to be seen, eaten and heard.
We wish you a lifetime of love and peace
Welcome Sebastian and congrats to Cerise!
By Jess Howard
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Tropic Bird Chick - Wayne Fox
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