September 24: Skuas stealing milk

Skuas are a very intelligent and opportunistic scavenger. They recognise the rich elephant seal milk as a worthwhile food source. Bold and not easily spooked, they will sit beside the feeding pup ready to catch any milk wasted.

Skua ready to sneak in a drink. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Waiting reaps its reward for this Skua, who gets a free meal. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Looking for a sneaky feed. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

September 22: Sand bath

The elephant seal is throwing sand over herself to assists with temperature regulation. On warmer days the seals nuzzle down into the sand and throw piles of it over themselves. As always the Skuas are never far away.

Elephant seal sand bath. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

September 19: Ele seal pup feeding time

The rick milk that the elephant seals are fed allows them to grow rapidly. The female seals almost appear to 'deflate'  in a matter of a few weeks as a result of the body mass lost in feeding their pups. The pups on the other hand, quickly fill out their baggy little black fur skins!  Skuas are always close at hand to sneak in and take advantage of milk squirting from the nipple after feeding. They sometimes will even try and harass the pups off the nipple so that they can feed on the milk themselves, such is the value of such as high energy source.

Elephant seal pup having a feed. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Feeding elephant seal pup. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

A Skua moves in to steal the milk. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Thanks again to Lionel for great pics.
** My foot is on the mend and I shouls be up and about with my camera again soon!**

September 5: First seal pup...and the skuas

After a long day of Petrel nest hunting we returned to Bauer Bay hut, to  witness the first seal pup that we saw for the year, cuddled up and bleating beside its mother. With little other food choices on the beach, an armada of skuas, also arrived, ready to pounce on the pup if it became weak, or to nibble of its umbilical cord, given the first opportunity. They also are on the ready to harass the pup off the nipple when it is feeding, and take advantage of the free flowing  rich seal milk.
The elephant seal pups are black furry little things, with a hoarse yelping bark, and big round eyes that seem to fill most of their faces.
There are still only two cows on the beach, something sure to change rapidly in the coming days as the  breeding season draws closer.
Spring has sprung.

Two cows , one pup and many Skuas lined up ready for a meal. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 31: The first skua of spring

This Great Skua Stercorarius skua lonnbergi was nestled in behind one of the 'beach balls' at Bauer Bay.  It is the first Skua that I have seen since they disappeared from the Island  over winter. Soon the elephant seals will be giving birth to their pups, and the Skuas will be here on mass to take advantage of a ready food source.

Great Skua shelters from the wind on the beach at Bauer Bay. Photo: Jacque Comery