Survival Training for V3 Expeditioner's

Well it is starting to get colder and darker again as the sun is actuall setting these days which is a bit of a novelty. As you can see it is often rather spectacular as the above shot was taken on the sandy beach of Lake Stinear (eastern side). Below are some of the windswept shapes that are created on Lake Dingles northern shore.

 The Fjord ice is starting to refreeze as flat Gris Ice as the shorter overcast days reduce the melt and start the reforming of a solid platform. Below is just a very cool textured rock with grains of sand stuck in its cracks!

 Another sunset this time from just outside the Mess looking South over Marchants Landing and the jetty.

Crab Eater Bashed by Elephant!

 I was also delegated the job of guided walker for the afternoon to get some of the overnighter’s (tourists) off the base and out into Antarctica proper. This was done in the form of a walk to the Old Wallow to look at the Elephant seals and their old, old pile of poo. Great spot but a bit on the nose and we made sure to stop downwind for a cup of tea and a biscuit. While down there we also saw a little Crab-eater seal that was bashed up on the beach near the station a few days ago by a much bigger Elephant seal. Bashed is an understatement and it was thought that the bigger seal had probably broken his jaw by engulfing his head and smashing him into the ground. It was feared that he would already be dead but he seems to be healthy and just relocated after feeling a bit sorry for himself. Here is hoping that he goes through his malt and makes a speedy recovery. It really was stupid to attack something that is at least ten times you size though. Gotta admire his courage but he was likened to a little Jack Russel fighting a German Sheppard.

 Some washed up crustaceans on the way to the Wallow and a camoflaged elephant seal hidding in thousands of years of piled up poo and fur!

 Art fellow recording the sounds of the Old Wallow. You could do the same at home by just burping, farting and general load groaning!

Spawn of the Sea Urchin's

 Here in the Lab Mel is looking at Baby Sea Urchins which are being studied as they are a good indicator species. Below are some of the cut up Urchin's that they have removed the sex cels from to make more baby urchins.

 Urchin's are dried out and then stored which is a little smelly! Some are preserved in alcohol but it is not a good idea to drink it and below are some of the baby Urchin's that are being photographed under the microscope.

The baby Urchin's are then subjected to more acidic mater to see what happens to their shells and development this is best likened to burning them with acid! The acid eats away at their shells which would not be that much fun. Does anyone think they would like to be burnt alive for science?

Rock Star for a Day!

 ‘Rock Star’ for a Day! In the Helicopter by 08:10 and off for a half day whirlwind walk and sampling tour from Crooked Lake Apple to Watt’s Hut via every lake and piece of moss we could find. I say ‘Rock Star’ as that is a little like how I would imagine it to feel for the best of the best having helicopters on standby waiting for the call to extract the ‘Rock Stars’ from one place to another over and over. Above is that a Rock Star or Conan the Barbarian? Below some funky Lichen that was sampled.

 More Funky Lichen and below is some of the Moss. Unfortunately there are not many actual Rock Star photo's as I was busy being the Star!

 ‘Rock Star’ back on centre stage as the chopper came in for our extraction again under full power heightening general anxiety of the scientists but getting them on board safely with all of our kit! On the way back the pilot took us over another sight that was something he had a question about as it was a lake that was literally red in colour. Possibly from the algae but we seized the opportunity to get a couple of samples whilst out under the spinning blades! Keeping scientists out of harm’s way while under spinning helicopter blades can be likened to herding chickens. They don’t always do what you think is safe, or realise that they make the pilot very nervous near the back of the helicopter! Anyway samples and scientists on board and off to Davis again touching down at 13:45 under full power before the helicopter took off again with its next load of passengers. More chicken herding and back to safety feeling a little high strung and not exactly in a relaxed teaching frame for SAR training of mechanical advantages and hauling!

Still winding down after a big day on the stage with true ‘Rock Star’ status gained (please note that this status is self appointed and only to be used in the context of making a good story). A very successful day on the whole, completing a fast and furious science sampling program before the arrival of the boat on Voyage Three.

Off the Island and onto Mather Peninsula

 Above is the view from where the helicopter droped us off and below is the spectacular lunch spot just near a moss bed.

 Here is the best moss bed that we had found to date and the life in their was just amazing! There was heaps of glopitty glu and sloopity slop. It was a jackpot of life. Below is some hairy looking lichen that was also a first.

 Below I thought I should just let you all know that I have found a pram and getting in some practice for when the baby comes! I am ready for it but is the baby ready?

Death Squad on Survivor Hop Island

As we neared the pond we heard the familiar noise of fast flying birds diving in for attack, those bloody Skua’s. They were being very persistent and we were aware that they may be protecting one of their babies but they were very close to having a trowel put directly in their path of swoop. After dealing with the onslaught of several angry Skua’s we had made it through their perimeter guard line and could move on to the lake.

 One of the infamous swoopers! Below a Skua hangs over the colony like a shadow of death waiting for the next little bundle of fluff to destroy!

 Skua chicks are usually the reason that you get swooped but often you do not see them untill it is too late! How many can you see in this photo?

 The Grim Reapers of the island go through part of their devil worshipping processes and make a fearful sound while they do it!

 Our first stop was at a site that we have likened to a Roman bath house. In this case for the Skua’s who bathe in the fresh water to get the blood of their penguin prey off their feathers after a good feed of baby fluffy, cuddly and cute penguin chick. Apparently the adults are too tough and you need to organise a side salad of seaweed! Back to the Roman bath that we had sampled the day before. On arrival we had noticed a dead Skua that had not been there the day before so an official autopsy was required!

No obvious signs of a struggle or abuse other than the fact that its eyes were missing! From here we could only hypothesise about the nature of its death and present condition! Why do you think it died?

Survivor Hop Island Continues

 Above a nice freshwater lake that we were sampling and below the black waters of the 'Pond of Death'

  Yes from a distance it looked like a luscious green pond surrounded by the multitudes of baby Adele’s who are only concerned with where there next meal comes from. On closer inspection it was not a mirage but a ‘Pond of Death’ (In a deep voice to make it all the scarier) which was black with the rancid filth of goodness knows what in it. There were more penguin carcases than you could imagine and all in different states of decomposition. This in itself is unusual as there are no bacteria or decomposers in Antarctica but they seemed to be breaking down. The ‘Pond of Death’ may just lure its prey down from the rookery or they may attempt to get rid of their dead or all those who touch it ultimately die!

 To top off the day I went for a little pre bed stroll that just took my breath away! Sitting at the Fulmar colony not too far from the Smartie I was able to watch in peace as they all went about their business. Some of the older chicks were unattended but far from helpless as they would sound the alert as fast and loud as they could. Their parents returning from time to time to feed them and see what all the fuss was about, Cape Petrels are also mixed into the cacophony of sounds that are the northern sea cliffs of Hop Island. Their chicks seem to be the ones that are at times unattended so I can only assume that they are older than the Fulmar chicks. Of course no bit of wildlife ever goes undetected and care free. The Skua’s are also there with their spawn of the undertakers never far from the action.