Rockhopper Penguins are among the smaller species of penguin. They reach about 50cm in height. Males and females cannot be distinguished by appearance. They are seperated into three subspecies, Northern, Southern and Eastern. Northern Rockhopper Penguins breed in cool temperate climates including on the islands of Gough and Tristan de Cunha in the Atlantic Ocean and St Paul and Manchester in the Indian Ocean. The Southern Rockhoppers breed on the Falkland Islands, Argentina and Chile, with breeding colonies around Cape Horn in South America, and Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, Macquarie, Campbell, Auckland and Antipodes Islands in the Southern Indian Ocean. Eastern Rockhopper Penguins are mostly found breeding on Campbell Island in New Zealand, but their numbers have declined immensely. Rockhopper Penguins usually make their habitat in rocky shorelines. They make nests and burrows in tall grasses called tussocks.
This is a series of caches that have been set around the footpaths of Badminston Common, an area of mixed heath and woodland, with the intention that they are found with what I hope will be helpful hints. You should not have to stray more that a few of feet from the footpath to reach each cache.
Some points to note, there maybe, from time to time livestock roaming/grazing in the area, be mindful of where they and you are and if you have a dog with you keep it under control, the same should be said of little cachers too!
Much of the eastern side of the common can become flooded after prolonged rain, although still walkable, wellies or good boots will be essential.
Nature has a nasty habit of pushing up stinging nettles and thorn bushes at the most inconvenient of places, usually where a cache was hidden earlier in the year. I haven't placed any of them deliberately so that you get stung/scratched, if this happens, blame Mother Nature!
Public transport is available as far as Blackfield, use BlueStar #9 and get off at Blackfield Crossroads. There are a number of shops/takeaways in the village if needed as well a garage for fuel.
The most important thing, have fun!
Happy caching!
Many thanks to Team Flynnie for the assistance in setting this series, your help has been invaluable.