Nature Watch (2)

Dry weather: Flying in to Denis Thursday morning (2nd October) the colour of the vegetation immediately drew my attention. We have been experiencing a dry spell in the central archipelago for a few weeks and of course this is always more pronounced on the low-lying islands which by the nature of the their topography attract less precipitation. The island presents a much less verdant spectacle from the air than usual with the greens somewhat faded and many of the grassed areas showing brown. The exception to this is the foliage of the Indian almond trees in the forest which appear to be sporting a fresh growth of leaves.

Obviously dry weather has implications for the island’s entire ecosystem, in particular it typically results in a consequent reduction in insect populations. The Seychelles warbler and magpie robin are both insectivorous birds and dry weather will result in a reduction of their food source. For the warblers this will typically mean a cessation of breeding activities until the next decent period of rainfall. For the magpie robins they will rely further upon the thrice-daily stocking of their feed stations by Catherina. It is for this very reason that Catherina’s work is so important. The foundling population of robins on the island require support to maintain them in good breeding condition. It is essential for the future prospects of the population that it get off to a good start with breeding success such that numbers can increase and make the population more resilient to natural perturbations in the future. In addition to this we are taking other measures to enhance their feeding habitat and I will cover that in the next posting of the SMR news in the coming days.

That afternoon I undertook my usual walk around the island to follow up on various issues. On reaching the grassland area called “Belle Etoile” on the island’s east coast I was struck by how the grass had died back revealing features and contours of the terrain that are normally smothered by thick herbaceous growth.

I checked on the small colony of wedge-tailed shearwater burrows, that I first mentioned in my post of 18th August “Re-colonisation 2”, and was pleased to note several new burrows further down the coast. This is very encouraging and I will keep monitoring the colony in the hope of establishing proof of breeding in the coming months.

I then continued south to check on the status of the ground-nesting tropicbirds - I will post on their status and that of the fairy tern chicks we have been following in the coming days.

As I write this we are experiencing a sudden cloudburst which will certainly help to revive the vegetation and I understand from the national meteorological office that they are forecasting a normal transition into the rainy season in the coming weeks. It can’t come too soon for Denis.

Humpback whales: on the 7th of September I posted on the sighting of 3 humpback whales offshore. On the 25th and 26th September hotel guests were treated by a much closer visitation by a mother and calf which spent the best part of 2 days within a few hundred metres of the Northwest coast of the island with the mother adding to the spectacle by occasionally breaching.

I have now (11:00 hrs Friday 3rd October) just been advised that whales are again visible today off the island’s southwest coast. See my post of August 20th entitled “Marine Megafauna” for information on the fantastic wildlife to be seen in the waters around Denis.