C IS FOR CHIPMUNK : A-Z Challenge

Welcome to Day 3 of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is:

'Wildlife Encounters'

The following is an edited extract from a travel essay shortlisted in a BBC Wildlife Magazine Travel Writer of the Year competition and subsequently published in Spain.

The best adventures are unplanned and unexpected. A wedding had brought us to Ontario, Canada with no plans beyond toasting the bride and groom.

We were not equipped for a simple ramble, let alone a serious hike to spot wildlife, but – ever optimistic – we decided to visit Algonquin National Park.

It was Fall. In their gaudy seasonal finery, the sugar maples formed exuberant backdrops against the crisp blue lakes. It felt like we had stumbled into a painting by an impressionist on acid.

The park's information centre supplied us with bundles of field guides and trail booklets. We returned to our lakeside cabin and riffled through our booty. The park was home to many animals including black bears, wolves and moose.

We knew that a couple of tourists sans the requisite hiking gear would be lucky to see a chipmunk. So I studied the literature, picked out some manageable-looking trails, and hoped we might see a moose. Failing that, I'd settle for the chipmunk.

Early the next morning we paused outside, transfixed. In the pre-dawn stillness there was an ethereal quality to the landscape. The moon cast a lambent glow over the lake, like spilled mercury.

In yielding darkness we found our chosen trail - The Whiskey Rapids. We struggled down a steep slope, tripping on tree roots, skidding on autumn leaves. On one particularly close tumble we flushed our chipmunk. He scolded us indignantly before skittering down the trail, tail aloft.

See you tomorrow - I'm heading in an easterly direction. Can you guess where and what the next animal will be?

If you want to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click HERE

B IS FOR BAT : A-Z Challenge

Welcome to Day 2 of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is:

'Wildlife Encounters'

When I moved to Fiji there were so many new experiences, every day seemed to herald a new distraction. I never tired of the novelty of sharing my garden with tropical birds, and I definitely never became blasé about the fruit bats – or flying foxes.

Fiji’s only indigenous mammals regularly disturbed our sleep, squabbling and fighting. Their nocturnal screeching sounded like an onslaught of banshees.

One of the windows in front of my writing desk had a papaya (pawpaw) tree directly outside.

I was working at my desk one evening when a bat landed on the tree in a swish of leathery wings, intent on feasting on my ripening papayas. 

I yelled at him to leave my fruit alone; I had been anticipating their imminent harvest.

He simply stared at me as if to say, "You looking at me?" 

Over several days I philosophically watched him demolish most of the ripe fruit on the tree. I was fascinated the first time I saw him awkwardly manoeuvre himself to an upright position in the branches in order to pee and poop.

Fortunately papayas grow like weeds in Fiji and I was able to harvest the fruit crop from other trees in due course.

See you on Monday - I'll be heading north east. Can you guess where and what the next animal will be? 



If you want to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click HERE

A IS FOR AARDVARK - A-Z Challenge

Welcome to Day 1 of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is:

'Wildlife Encounters'

‘Welcome!’ Volker smiled, flashing a commotion of teeth. ‘I will bring coffee and chocolate cake. Yes? Then we will go on a game drive.’

In fading light we bounced along in Volker’s elderly four wheel drive, while stomachs replete with homemade chocolate cake were whipped to an uncomfortable frenzy.

Our informative guide chatted about the antelope he raised on this Namibian farm. His enthusiasm for the wildlife that shared his land -  including leopards - shone. He was prepared to lose a percentage of his stock if it meant his farm served as a refuge for the magnificent cats. 

Dusk was upon us as we crossed a dry river bed. Volker exclaimed and braked, pointing excitedly. In the gathering darkness an aardvark was ambling along. Our host leapt from the vehicle, beckoning urgently to us. We followed at a run, half crouched (for some reason) after the aardvark. 

All I could think was: 

I’m following an aardvark on foot at prime leopard-hunting time.

We caught up with the beastie, approaching close enough to observe its long, powerful claws as it rootled in the undergrowth. Utterly delighted, I forgot about prowling leopards.

The nocturnal aardvark is notoriously difficult to see in the wild and this sighting exceeded our expectations. My only regret was my failure to capture a clear photo because I didn’t want to startle it with my flash!

See you tomorrow - can you guess where and what the next animal will be? 

If you want to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click HERE

ON THE ROAD SURPRISES - Part 5 - The Maldives

I knew that my recent trip to the Maldives would offer a wealth of fabulous diving – and it didn’t disappoint. I haven’t sorted out the underwater photos yet, so here are a few above water surprises.

We were treated to sightings of pods of spinner dolphins on several occasions.

This 'vessel', complete with house plants intrigued me greatly.

Finally, is this the smallest island in the Maldives??

HAPPY EASTER!

P.S. I'm now gearing up to do the April A-Z blogging challenge. My theme is Wild Animals that I have specifically seen in the wild (no zoos or animal parks!!) Can you guess which animal will be my first featured under 'A'?

ON THE ROAD SURPRISES - Part 4 - Going Underwater

Scuba diving is unpredictable and always full of surprises which is what keeps me going back for more. I’m off to the Maldives next week for a diving trip, so I’m going to leave you with some underwater surprises and I’ll see you when I return at the end of March.

The first time I bumped into a Decorator crab I didn't realise what I was looking at. We were diving the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi and I saw a sea urchin moving impossibly quickly on the sand. It was only when I swam closer that I realised the urchin was perched on a crab. 




These crabs have spikes on their eco-skeletons which enable them to attach sponges, seaweeds, algae - and in the case of the crabs I saw in Lembeh - sea urchins, onto their backs as a form of disguise. I've even seen a decorator crab with an unwieldy mess of dead coral on its back, but alas I haven't been able to unearth that particular photo from my files.

I think there's something rather endearing about these little critters and I'm looking forward to a wealth of diving surprises in the Maldives next week.



As a result of a question put to me (see the comments) I did further research and discovered that my 'decorator crabs' are in fact 'urchin crabs' which resemble decorator crabs. The big difference being: urchin crabs carry sea urchins and decorator crabs carry sponges, hydroids, bits of algae and other inert objects on their shells. 

This is a classic case of believing what a dive leader told me without thoroughly checking the facts - so slapped wrist to me - and big thanks to AW for asking the questions that prompted my research.

In answer to AW's question about the advantages: the sea urchins benefit from being carted around by the crabs because they are transported to new feeding grounds. 

ON THE ROAD SURPRISES - Part 3

When it comes to travel surprises some countries offer richer pickings than others. Morocco is a good example of a country that offers a wealth of surprises. During our road trip I was regularly delighted by the unexpected forms of transport sharing the parking facilities.

We stopped for lunch next to this 'parked' camel.

Later we pulled up by this little donkey.

At a fuel stop we found this horse waiting patiently for its owner.

Donkeys were placed in an overflow 'car park' on this football pitch.

And finally....

Well, the sign is clearly marked P for Parking!

Do let me know if you've enjoyed this post. Thank you.

ON THE ROAD SURPRISES - Part 2

In my last post I talked about the joy of surprises when I'm travelling. This next surprise occurred in New South Wales, Australia. I was in Jervis Bay National Park for some wildlife spotting, so it was no surprise to see kangaroos...

What I didn't expect to see was a kangaroo exploring the camp site.

You could almost imagine this one was thinking to itself, 'Tsk! Will you only look at the mess they've left.'

'Now, where do I start tidying this lot up?'


Please feel free to comment if you enjoyed this and I hope you'll look forward to my next surprise.