Finally a break in the weather at about 14:30 and it was on. Get it all to the heli pad and get out while we could. This was complicated a little by the amount of equipment that we needed to take. After loading it all in it was found that there was too much for us and the gear so another flight was set to take us spread over two flights.
The rest of the day just got better and better as we walked along the northern coast of the island and found a number of the Fulmar (type of petrel that looks a little like a sea gull) colonies that were also surrounded by the nesting areas of Skua’s. Egg upon egg seemed to be scattered and open on the ground where the skua’s had cracked open the eggs of the Fulmar’s. The fulmar’s nest on the ground but also seem to be only on these northern facing cliffs of Hop Island. Skua’s wait eagerly for their chance to seize any and all opportunities to feed themselves from others misfortunes.
Above are some of the Fulmar nests the closest one has a visible chick under her belly. Below is the Smartie the Apple of Hop Island and below that well I will just leave it to you!
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