HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT SEAVIEW WILDLIFE!

What with the snow, ice and cold winds, followed by copious lashings of rain it's not been great outdoor weather for much of the time - other than over Christmas when the winter sunshine and blue skies added a special magic to the holiday spirit here at the Park. Even our ducks and penguins have been looking for shelter this week!

It's incredible to think that we're about to embark on a new decade! We've been so busy with plans for next year, with Christmas festivities sprinkled in between, the month of December has slipped by ..... we take this opportunity to wish all our friends out there a very happy new year and all the very best for 2010.

CHRISTMAS DUCKLINGS!

It's always summery at Seaview!

Pictured here earlier this week is Animal Keeper, Jake Cousins, who says there's no point in telling the mother ducks not to hatch-out their broods whilst they're so well cared for at Seaview Wildlife - this little gaggle hatched out just a couple of weeks ago and the Keepers are giving Mum a helping hand by keeping them warm at night under a heat lamp!

(Photo: Jules Brittan)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Ho Ho Ho!!! Dippy our Head Honcho Humboldt Penguin is in the festive spirit!

Dippy is a 14 year-old, hand-reared, 'imprinted' penguin that we acquired many years ago from another Park. He is the only member of our penguin colony not to pair off with another penguin - he'd rather be in the company of humans and saves all his attention and affection for the Keepers and for the visiting public! As a result we're able to have some fun with him and involve him in a lot more activities than would normally be possible. Hopefully you'll already be familiar with Dippy and some of his antics as a result of his recent launch onto Facebook (you can become friends with Dippy by logging onto Dippy Seaview).

This message brings very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year - to all our friends and customers - from Dippy and all of us here at Seaview Wildlife Encounter. We look forward to seeing you again in 2010!

Tara and Tash's school visits!

There is no rest for the wicked...my first day back at the park, Tasha and myself prepared some of the animals for their first day at school!

The first school we visited was St Wilfreds pre- school, Ventnor, where the children aged between 2-4 years were very intrigued by Cornelious our Corn snake from Central America.

Our next stop was just across the road to St. Boniface pre- school where as you can see Tasha and the children got their hands full with some Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches! We weren't alone though, Jason from the gazette met us there and took the opportunity to snap some shots of Fluffy our beautiful New Zealand Giant Rabbit enjoying the attention from all the children and her chance of fame!

Tara is back!

Well I will leave you with the image of these beautiful African Penguins, preparing themselves for a swim! These adult penguins believe it or not came in covered in oil, unfortunately a very common occurance, but thanks to the hard work of SANCCOB and the dedicated volunteers they are almost ready for release after having a good old scrub!

So was it worth all the cuts and bruises?.....DEFINITELY! I have lots of very treasured memories of SANCCOB and South Africa made easy by AVIVA (volunteer programme) and everyone that supported me prior to my departure...thankyou!

Now I have to make it up to all the animals that I left behind at the Park, although it looks like Dippy has a new friend!

Tara is back!

When not working at SANCCOB I got the chance to do some wildlife spotting from the land and at sea. This is one of my favourite photos taken whilst on my way to Robben Island (Nelson Mandela was imprisioned here) of a flock of Sacred Ibis! The wildlife in South Africa never ceases to amaze me, with flocks of Pelicans often flying over head and Flamingos seen feeding in one of the local reserves as well as Southern Right Whales just casually playing in the Bay, South Africa is definitely every wildlife enthusiast's heaven!

Tara is back!

After a tearful farewell to all the African Penguins, my new found friends, Wildlife and of course not forgetting....the sun, I returned safely back to the harsh reality of winter in England on Friday morning.

Where do I begin....it's surprising how much you can squeeze in in only six weeks!

Well firstly my time at SANCCOB has been such a valuable practical and personal expereince. The work that is done there is incredible, especially given the confined grounds in which the centre is located. The local volunteers are so dedicated in rehabilitating the sick, oiled or injured birds that arrive at the centre, and it gave me a real sense of pride and achievement to be actively involved in saving the African Penguin and other birds. Maybe the only thing that I won't miss is the lovely green oil skins that we wore!!

WHAT A YEAR, WHAT A NIGHT, WHAT AN AWARD!

This is a team photo - kindly taken by Alan Marriott, Editor of The Isle of Wight County Press - at Cowes Yacht Haven Gala Awards Dinner on Friday night (27th November) - in celebration of being awarded first prize in the category 'GoWight Tourism & Leisure' at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism & Industry Business Awards for Excellence 2009.

This coveted Award recognises the Park for combining ongoing growth as a Tourist Attraction on the Island, with excellence in wildlife education and conservation. Seaview Wildlife Encounter is situated in a beautiful parkland setting with rolling vistas down towards the Solent. This is a really special day out where there is something for everyone - whether you're looking for peace and tranquility - by the lake feeding wildfowl from your hands, or wandering in the oasis known as the Tropical House - or being involved in a range of fun activities.

The in-season daily events include educational quizzes, 9 keeper talks; opportunities for feeding of penguins, wallabies and parrots; a chance to meet the otters and the meerkats; have a close-up with the gang in Pets Corner as well as with the cold-blooded creatures at 'bugs and reptiles'.

There are superb photographic and artistic opportunities within a natural unspoilt environment. Visitors are able to feed and interact with a wide variety of birds and animals - a chance to be at one with nature, away from the rat race and the demands of modern-day life.