Author Archives: Drew Whitworth

May 19 2024
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

The elusive wirebird

Sunday 19th May 2024, 10.50am (day 4,651)

Wirebird, 19/5/24

The wirebird — officially, the St Helena plover (Anarhynchus sanctaehelenae) but nobody calls it that — is the one species of bird that is endemic to St Helena. That is, it is found nowhere else. It is very much the symbol of the island, appearing on its flag. In my three visits here so far I had never seen one, but there it is. This is quite a coup, as this is one of the planet’s rarest birds; the latest census counted about 640 of them, so this single one is 0.15% of the entire global population. Birdwatchers, eat your heart out.

Anyway, that’s it for St Helena — this time. But, I will be back.

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May 19 2024
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Windy – therefore, still here

Saturday 18th May 2024, 12.05pm (day 4,650)

Anemometer, 18/5/24

I was supposed to be flying out of St Helena today, but I, and the, roughly, 75 other people due to make this trip have been obliged to stay there for another 24 hours thanks to the fierce and gusty winds which were blowing over the island, despite it being otherwise a nice, sunny and quite warm day. Of the six flights I have now made to and from St Helena, two of them have been so delayed. Well, never mind, there are worse places to wait it out. The anemometer was spotted above the Castle in Jamestown, and seemed appropriate. The wonkiness of the background is not my error: much of St Helena actually does look so non-perpendicular.

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May 19 2024
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Daily Post, Interior

The old board, Saint FM

Thursday 17th May 2024, 11.00am (day 4,649)

Radio plugs, 17/5/24

Had cause to return to Saint FM this morning, not to appear on the radio (unlike last time), just for a chat. My eye was drawn to this board, partly because of its nice grain, also because of the essential randomness of what’s there and what’s not. What did microphones 2 and 5-8 do to offend? What of L1, and what is an L anyway (loudspeaker)? Could I have centred it all a bit better? Probably.

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May 17 2024
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Daily Post, Friend, Portrait

Professor Dan’s lecture

Thursday 16th May 2024, 7.15pm (day 4,648)

Dan Yon, 16/5/24

The island of St Helena was discovered in May — at least according to tradition, May 21st 1502. Hence its name, as that’s the feast day of St Helena. So this may have prompted May 2024 being declared ‘St Helena Culture Month’, and here’s probably the world’s most senior St Helenian academic, Professor Dan Yon, doing his bit for it with a public lecture in the museum in Jamestown tonight. Not that he teaches here — Toronto is his usual base.

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May 16 2024
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Muscovy ducks in Jamestown

Wednesday 15th May 2024, 12.25pm (day 4,647)

Muscovies, 15/5/24

The colony of Muscovy ducks that used to live around the marina in Hebden Bridge, and peaked at about six individuals, seems to have disappeared — but members of the species have managed to find St Helena, in the middle of the ocean. Why does the one on the right not have the same facial bulges as the other? I suspect, just because it’s younger. They grow their faces over time. As do we humans, of course.

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May 15 2024
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Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger, Urban scene

Outside Jamestown market

Tuesday 14th May 2024, 5.10pm (day 4,646)

Outside the market, 14/5/24

A few days to go on this trip to St Helena and work has definitely been keeping me busy. On the opposite side of the street I was sat there at just past clocking-off time, feeling very much like these guys. Yes, the butt bin to the right annoys me. But only slightly.

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May 14 2024
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Night on Napoleon Street

Monday 13th May 2024, 8.25pm (day 4,645)

Napoleon Street, night, 13/5/24

Jamestown isn’t usually the most rocking capital city on the planet — then again, neither was my last one, Windhoek, and Jamestown may well be the more lively of the two on a Saturday night. But not on a calm Monday evening. The lights climbing to the left are those of Jacob’s Ladder. Above, the moon.

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May 13 2024
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Art and architecture, Daily Post

Hudson Janisch’s memorial

Sunday 12th May 2024, 10.50am (day 4,644)

One wonders if the social and economic landscape of St Helena would be different had it been run more often in its history by St Helenians. In the centuries since it was formally colonised, only two of the many Governors have been born on the island, and it’s perhaps significant that one of these, Hudson Janisch gets himself by far the most impressive memorial of any Governor. On the lowest level of this three-tier stone (not pictured) is inscribed: “This monument is erected by the inhabitants to commemorate the high respect and esteem in which their late Governor was universally held.” As a memorial, that’s pretty good, I think.

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May 13 2024
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Black and white beetles

Saturday 11th May 2024, 12.15pm (day 4,643)

Black and white beetles, 11/5/24

They did seem like they were quite keen on the idea of making more of themselves, but I moved on before they got down to anything. Apparently these are white-spotted fruit chafers (Mausoleopsis amabilis). Apparently the St Helena Research Institute (hi Becky) would like to know exactly where they were spotted: so I tag these as residing half-way up the slope between the lower Munden’s battery and the one at the top of the hill, just above Jamestown. Ecologically, they’re not supposed to be here, but that is, sadly, true of a great many species, both animal and vegetable, that are now found on St Helena.

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May 13 2024
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Daily Post, Friend, Portrait

Thinking in progress

Friday 10th May 2024, 3.10pm (day 4,642)

Ketso session, 10/5/24

Well, I am here to do some work, at least. In fact it’s been a busy week, and one I was relieved to get to the end of: maybe Friday afternoon isn’t the best time to ask others to do some work on my behalf, but we got through it. Colleague (and former student) Gareth sits in the background and makes his third appearance on the blog.

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