Wednesday 16 January 2008

The Mystery of Penguin Island....

At first glance it just looks like any other traffic island, and up until a few days ago it was.
On closer inspection there is an unexpected visitor. Obviously arriving under the cover of darkness and setting up home while no one was watching.
Blame it on global warming or the population explosion of this common species (Sphenicidae Plasticus), but this chap has gone to unusual lengths to secure its own little piece of England.
A cute little chap, 'Percy' as he's been nicknamed seems totally unphased by the rush of traffic just feet from his new home.
His cheery face skyward turned, he was unbothered at my approach and appeared quite tame.
When asked why was he here and where had he come from, the response was...."No comment"
Maybe this explains the sudden appearance. Nestled next to a bright orange foot, an egg. Perhaps there will be more little Percys on 'penguin island' in the coming weeks!

17 comments:

Floderten said...

Ooh, that's a bit creepy! I remember in December when we drove past this place that sells Christmas trees - on the hill behind the road, far away, was a GIANT Santa. I squinted and thought I must have been judging the distance wrong, because it couldn't possibly be THAT big in real life.

I swear. It's the scariest thing I've ever seen. It was bigger than a HOUSE!!

(I like Percy, though. He seems nice. :) He can come stay with me, should the island become too noisy!)

Madwag said...

lol.... a couple of weeks ago we had some guy set up a complete camp on a island like that.... funny stuff here in England.

Barkfoot said...

Madwag - There was a guy that lived on a traffic island in Wolverhampton for 30 years! Nicknamed Fred (real name Josef Stawinoga), he died this Oct aged 87. It was only revealed after his death that it was a self imposed punishment for his activities as an SS Officer during World War 2. It seemed that he became content with his life, daily sweeping his island clean with a broom surrounded by traffic...

david mcmahon said...

Great post. We have fair penguins here in Melbourne, but he sure ain't one of those! Mat, I think the evidence is all there in, um, black and white!!

LesleyinNM said...

I want one! A penguin, not a traffic island.

"M2" said...

alright C Brit.......
I understand you driving around with a camera in the car
and you see a penguin opportunity
but what are you doing with an egg?????? just happen to have one on ya???
back from the grocery store??

Jessica said...

Ha! Ha!
Pesky Penguin!

BarnGoddess said...

wow, big penguin!

Outhouse Capital of Canada said...

My question is... did he swim and walk all the way from Antarctica to lay her egg, I presume 'HER' with an egg. Or is it the Chinese variety of penguin escaped from Asda.
There used to be a penguin in the North Atlantic, The Great Auk, now extinct from over hunting.

Joe Jubinville said...

I don't mean to be alarmist but the mysterious appearance, the "no comment," the eerie spaceward gaze, and now the egg, if it IS an egg... we all thought gremlins were cut too - at first.

Callie said...

LOL.... That's an ugly penguin! Curious to see what hatches from the egg!

Gill said...

Percy, how adorable.
I think quirky stuff like that puts a smile on your face when you least expect it.

That is kinda nice, right?
xo
Gillian

Elisa...life as we know it. said...

After seeing this post yesterday I had dream about these penguins popping up all over Perry Barr...yeah wierd eh!


Did you steal him from some left over Christmas display???
Was anyone else from "the gang" involved??

at Twisterton Library said...

Upon close inspection of the photographs I noticed that the creature has a door as it's tummy. I don't like to be the party pooper but this does look like a malevolant thing planted by one of the villans from Batman like The Joker ... or... was there even one called the Penguin. One of those devices that would entertain and enchant people and lull them into a false sense of security .. at which point it's tummy opens-up and unleashes a dasterdly device to, well, do something dastardly.

photowannabe said...

I love a good mystery. Can't wait for chapter 2...

Lee Ann said...

Hey! Thank you for stopping by the Castle. It was a pleasure seeing you there.
Hope you stop by more often.
Lee Ann

Russell Hill said...

Well, I think I can solve this mystery right now...

You've heard of Linux right? Well the Linux mascot is a penguin.

Clearly this is a protest made by Linux lovers, possibly who work for Yahoo, against Microsoft's attempt to buy Yahoo for £3 plus a small bent paperclip.

Or that's what I think anyway...