Tuesday 26 August 2014

The Isle Of Pink is back…. for the month of September


The Isle Of Pink is back !  The Island is turning pink again throughout September with a range of activities and stunts taking place.  It’s all to raise funds for life-saving research into breast cancer whilst spreading an important awareness message at the same time.  The Park are contributing by having the team on site on Monday September 1st for a fund raiser day accompanied with a Dippy Story !  Please support this worthy cause ………

The super duper Pink race
Today it was Pink race day, a day everyone had been looking forward to for a very long time. For the last 7 days every animal in the Park had been given special pellets to pop into their drinks and take at meal times 3 times a day. These contained a special ingredient which all the flamingos eat to maintain their bright pink coloured feathers. If taken following the Keepers strict instructions it would guarantee complete colour change by day 7. Today it was day 7 and to our absolute delight we discovered it had worked!! Every single animal had turned to bright pink!

Chilean_Flamingo_2128
The first ever Pink race to take place at the Park was being organized and judged by Amber the owl, a very wise old Eurasian eagle owl. Each animal taking part had been given a sponsor form several weeks ago and all of them had been very busy collecting as many sponsors as they could. After the race all the money would be gathered together and given to a very special charity that did research towards medicines to help cure Breast Cancer. Today the whole Park had been decorated with pink bunting flags, pink balloons tied on to the outside entrance of every animal’s house and the flamingo’s playground floor had been fitted with a very soft fluffy pink carpet.
Brian, a large and very friendly white goose who lives at the Park’s upper pool had been training the flamingos for weeks ready for the Pink race. He had given each bird an individual exercise programme and set fitness targets to complete each week. The flamingos had been separated into 3 teams by the 3 different flocks that live at the Park, the Chilean’s, Lessers and the Caribbeans.

Bryan the Goose late Aug 2012 DSC_0438
Kookie, known by everyone at the Park as the “ laughing Kookaburra”, a very crazy bird who tends to laugh all the time at anything and with everyone, today was on the gate to welcome all the pink guests, and collect together the many sponsorship forms. The flamingo’s playground soon turned into a pink blur of colour as the animals filled the rows of seats. High up on the stage overlooking the race tracks stood the beautiful Sammy, a blue fronted Amazon parrot. She had the most wonderful voice and sang for all the animals as they waited for the contestants to get ready and the race to begin.

Solent News Kookie & duckling 4
The pink Park animals gathered around the refreshment tents where the parrots were serving all kinds of delicious pink foods, prawn cocktail and crab sticks, pink iced cupcakes sprinkled with 100’s and 1000’s, huge whipped up balls of candyfloss on sticks and tubs and tubs of strawberry ice cream!! The pink drinks being served ranged from freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, strawberry milkshake with floating marshmallows and bendy straws to super fizzy pink cocktails which contained quite a lot of alcohol and were not allowed to be consumed by the contestants taking part in the race.

Borris Jan 2010 DSC_0026
The flamingos began to take their places at the start line, some stretching and warming up their muscles whilst others stood posturing on 1 leg and having a natter. The Chilean lady flamingos were sitting alongside the race tracks on top of their birds nests as their eggs were due to hatch at the end of August. They had been given the extremely important job of spotting any cheating or rule breaking during the race.

Chilean chick in ballet pose (re-sized)
Amber the owl stepped onto the stage at 3 o’clock and spoke to all the pink Park animals through a very loud claw held speaker, he congratulated all of us on such a super pink race event and wished all the flamingos and race partners the best of luck! He then handed a pink blindfold ribbon to each flamingo which the little race partner then tied around their head to completely cover their eyes. Amber then explained the rules of the pink race, once blindfolded the flamingos were then to bend down so their small race partner could climb carefully onto their back from where they would shout directions to their flamingo as to the whereabouts of the finish line. The winning flamingo being the first to cross the pink finish line ribbon with their little pink animal race partner sitting on their back. The first aid squirrel medical team were standing by close to the track in case of any injuries.
amber (9)
Dippy being the largest of the flamingo race partners rode on the back of the largest flamingo of the flock, his name was Francis. Other animals such as the white mice, chickens, rabbits, cockatoos and rats all took their places on the start line ready to race! Amber blew the whistle and off we went, it was a very funny race, lots of the flamingos bumped into each other, wobbled all over the place and some wandered quite far off the race track even though they were being given very good directions. Others were quite speedy but lost their race partners off their backs and had to pick them up again all whilst being blindfolded!

Dippy_portrait_040314_01
The winner of the pink flamingo race crossed the ribbon with a huge smile across his pink face and his partner was waving his little paws high up into the air, it was Roger the rabbit and his flamingo who had won!! Pink trophies were handed out on the stage to the winners and runners up, everyone clapped and cheered and then all joined in the pink after race party which went on late into the night!

Sunday 24 August 2014

EMAIL OF THE WEEK……

Hi,
Just wanted to let you all know what a wonderful time my two daughters, wife and I had at Seaview Wildlife Encounter last week. It was the highlight of our two week break on the Isle of Wight.
We can't wait to visit again next time we're on the island.

All the best,
Mark, Karen, Georgia and Daisy Montague
PS. They both now want a Wallaby!

wallaby brushing

Wednesday 20 August 2014

A Beautiful Baby Bleeding Heart

Over in the Tropical House this week the Keepers discovered the nest of one of our Bleeding Heart Pigeons. 

Inside the carefully made nest there was an egg and a beautiful little baby! Take a look at the photos below:

DSC_0642-001DSC_0649-001





DSC_0650-002 - Copy

Found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, these pigeons are one of a number of species of ground dwelling dove. They get their name from the splash of vivid red colour at the centre of their white breasts.

On first sight you might think that the bird has been wounded, especially where the reddish hue extends down the belly giving the illusion of blood running down the body. The Keepers are often called to the Tropical House with reports of injured birds only to find that it is one the Bleeding Heart Pigeons!

Bleeding Heart Pigeon

Saturday 16 August 2014

Latest Shoresearch Survey at Thorness Bay

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         This week the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust visited Thorness Bay here on the island to conduct the latest Shoresearch survey.


With the help of one of the Keepers from the park and lots of volunteers, they were able to identify many different species of marine life- including this impressive Edible Crab:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Other species found included:
Velvet Swimming Crabs, Shore Crabs, Hairy Crabs, Broad Clawed Porcelain Crabs, Brittles Stars, Sea Spiders, Blennies, Gobies, Five Bearded Rocklings, Shrimps, Limpets, Barnacles, Winkles, Topshells, Dog Whelks, Razor Clams, Oysters, Anemones, Sponges, Algaes and many different species of seaweed!


Thorness Bay is a very important site, and the survey proved just how diverse and interesting the wildlife is there!
Everyone was also treated to a beautiful sunset on the beach (inbetween the thunderstorms that is!)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

If you would like more information about the Shorsearch project including how to get involved, then take a look at the website for more information:

http://www.hiwwt.org.uk/shoresearch

Monday 11 August 2014

EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Had to e-mail to send my thanks to all the staff involved in making yesterdays visit to the Park so wonderful!!
I had booked a “penguin experience” and a cake as a birthday surprise for my best friend. From the moment we got to the Park we were treated so well. The lovely lady at the entrance was obviously expecting us and even ensured that she gave me all the information I needed regarding timings etc., in secret so as not to spoil the surprise for my friend.
viow swe
The 2 keepers that took the “Experience” were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and made it a lovely, personal, hands-on encounter with the penguins.
The Birthday cake, which Graham the chef had made, was really special and was decorated beautifully. It was presented to my friend in the restaurant with all of the staff singing “Happy Birthday”. It was such a nice touch and the cake tasted lovely too!

Garnet yawning Feb 2011 Otter Yawning Duck at Seaview 060513 low res
We both had a wonderful afternoon at the Park. The animals seem happy and well looked after, the surroundings are immaculate and the staff are so friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will remember the visit fondly for a very long time!
Keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Ann Taylor.
PS – I have posted a glowing tribute for the Park on Trip Advisor. The staff deserve it!!

Saturday 9 August 2014

Humboldt Penguin Moulting 2014

IMG_2498-001 - CopyIt’s that time of year again when the Humboldt Penguins here at the park are going through their ‘Catastrophic Annual Moult’. 

This is a natural process that all penguins go through once year where they moult and lose all their old brown feathers and then will grow a beautiful brand new set afterwards.

Some of the penguins have now finished moulting and are looking very handsome in their new black and white plumage, whereas some of the others are still looking very bald, pink and scruffy!

During the moult their bodies also swell up and they get extra grouchy so the keepers are having to be extra careful not to get pecked!

Here are some photos of the penguins to show how different they are all looking at the moment:

IMG_2456-001
IMG_2463-001
IMG_2468-001
IMG_2474-001

Finally we have our oldest and most famous penguin who is looking a little on the scruffy side at the moment- Dippy:

DSC_0391 - Copy

Thursday 7 August 2014

EMAIL OF THE WEEK


Dear Lorraine,
Thank you all so much for such a wonderful afternoon on Monday. We all had a fantastic time and the girls haven't stopped talking about their VIP guided tour of the pigs and other animals.
Mum had an amazing birthday party. It was all so beautifully decorated and the food was delicious. Even after last year, she still didn't suss it out ! We shared Graham's yummy cake with some of the other guests at the hotel and everybody said it was a really fantastic cake.
I know I probably said this last year, but I'm going to say it again - I don't think I have ever been anywhere with so many lovely people working there. The effort you make is above and beyond and it makes me want to move to the Isle of Wight so I can come and see you all the time!

Audrey and Dippy
Mum will be writing to you herself, but I know she had a wonderful time.
Thank you all once again for making her Birthday so special and we really hope to see you next year!
With very best wishes,
Sandra xx

Wednesday 6 August 2014

RANKED NUMBER ONE ON TRIP ADVISOR OUT OF 100 ISLAND ATTRACTIONS


http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g503891-d1874777-r219461143-Seaview_Wildlife_Encounter-Seaview_Isle_of_Wight_England.html#REVIEWS
Seaview Wildlife are still in the number one spot on Trip Advisor…… we are getting some fabulous reviews and wonderful comments from our visitors – here is a small selection….

*****
“Excellent place to visit”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 August 2014 NEW
*****
“very well run”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 August 2014 NEW
*****
“A fun day out”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 July 2014 NEW
viow swe
Don’t leave the Island without visiting this exclusive Wildlife retreat on the NE side of the Island – a hidden gem!