Today was almost as lovely a day as yesterday. We didn’t have the breeze to keep us as cool today. Even with such a lovely day yesterday, it ended on a down note. I stepped into a shearwater burrow and twisted my ankle pretty good. With good doctoring, the swelling has stayed down and the Physician’s Assistant doesn’t think it is more than a mild to moderate sprain. So now I’m gimping around. The bad part about that is that I missed going to Eastern again. The good part is that I got to work at my own pace and just be with the birds.
Susan Scott
Being alone with the birds is a wonderful opportunity. I got to stop and look at things I might not have been able to enjoy otherwise. I flushed up a black noddy that I might have missed otherwise. Watched a pair of Black Footed Albatross dance and another pair switch off the egg, one eagerly, one reluctantly. I got to enjoy the cooked lunch today instead of a cheese sandwich, although, I’m not sure it was a better trade off than the location where my teammates were eating. When I filled out my count sheet, I just put Doll in for my team name. I got to think. I got to make decisions. The biggest decision I made today was to give a friend my last week here. Susan had gotten to come at the last minute but only for the first 2 weeks. I was scheduled for the full 3 weeks and the fight home on 1/6/11 is full. The only way Susan could stay was if someone got off that flight. I decided that an extra 100 miles on my ankle at this time was not the best for me and Susan will make a fine replacement. So I’ll be home for New Year.
Monk seal enjoying the sun at Rusty Bucket.
Incoming.
The “Incoming” shot is wonderful. Well, all of your pics are wonderful, really! The video is so cool to see. I think at the end, after the one has pushed the other off the egg and is settling down, it is saying “thank you, thank you, thank you”.
I’m so sorry you are having to leave early because of injuries. Being hurt away from home isn’t fun. And being hurt while trying to do something even if you love doing it isn’t fun either. I, and our household of creatures, will welcome you home, though.