tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91392976315954964902024-03-18T07:55:49.654+00:00Stacey in AntarcticaBird Island (South Georgia) & Signy Island (South Orkneys)Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-42239333894227682652024-03-18T07:52:00.001+00:002024-03-18T07:55:16.868+00:00Homewards<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Today our long journey home begins. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough is due to arrive at Bird Island today for “last call”. Last call is the final ship visit of the summer season and is when everyone except the wintering team of 4 people leave the island. There will be 9 of us departing. We have been preparing cargo and getting ready to leave for a while now and are now prepared and ready.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can follow the ship webcam here:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/images/webcams/rrs-sir-david-attenborough-webcam/">https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/images/webcams/rrs-sir-david-attenborough-webcam/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unlike the journey south, which took less than a week, our journey home is quite an adventure and it will be almost 4 weeks before we get back to the UK. Once we leave Bird Island, we will be doing a round of the other BAS research stations- at King Edward Point, South Georgia, then onwards down to Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands (where I have also worked previously), before returning to the Falklands. It should be a lot of fun!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-36784394975018477832024-03-10T12:48:00.001+00:002024-03-10T13:51:19.373+00:00Days out<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">We have had some lovely weather at Bird Island this summer, and as a result have been getting out and about across the island, both for work, and on our days off.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bird Island is small and its peaks are more like hills than mountains in height, but the terrain can be dramatic and rocky and a day out can be quite exciting if you aren’t on the main paths. One sunny day, a group of us decided to walk the Five Peaks, which are the five biggest on the island and form a ridge along its length. The peaks at the eastern end are rocky, giving way to lower, greener peaks to the west. These were our first two peaks, Tickell and La Roche. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYd8P8HgFq3bV1ixTEN3YDF8ZOOhStc2xEyzvf3NZ_Nlj6v_o05JT7Xfy_0Ne_u_mstHNvEGJFH7XH16bOOanQBn3g295hfOdd3fS1afq0ulQS-vxslNgdvqYKUnd3OlRZOs2EE_nO8WacSNCT0TZywEUZntAUHqqhPoZ-lVbrTu5hii7bFoCONEd7qh-x"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715886651756226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYd8P8HgFq3bV1ixTEN3YDF8ZOOhStc2xEyzvf3NZ_Nlj6v_o05JT7Xfy_0Ne_u_mstHNvEGJFH7XH16bOOanQBn3g295hfOdd3fS1afq0ulQS-vxslNgdvqYKUnd3OlRZOs2EE_nO8WacSNCT0TZywEUZntAUHqqhPoZ-lVbrTu5hii7bFoCONEd7qh-x=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the view from La Roche, the highest point on the island, looking west. You can see the research station which is where we live, down in the bay, and the smaller peaks of Gazella, Tonk and Molly Hill beyond. In the distance lies the Willis Islands, and beyond that, there is nothing at the same latitude until you’ve travelled right round the world and back to South Georgia again! <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheQDjPVKu0Id6LZSEHJDNg02gq7rwyuqmGhKWg0gSUOWmwxNy9n0ibLrRYj-Zgrx_v9pjoEdjch0J2mB-pY4NZfJCs6DOzXB-K2x0X9HSwMfP2z4nKqGKP8bzlY_OUHORPR4bvW3hKTzhlTAgDy-4H2YB8Ol38sVFlDT9HQhXOWP-Igw6VY3HbxxwDMZ0G"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715895673627954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheQDjPVKu0Id6LZSEHJDNg02gq7rwyuqmGhKWg0gSUOWmwxNy9n0ibLrRYj-Zgrx_v9pjoEdjch0J2mB-pY4NZfJCs6DOzXB-K2x0X9HSwMfP2z4nKqGKP8bzlY_OUHORPR4bvW3hKTzhlTAgDy-4H2YB8Ol38sVFlDT9HQhXOWP-Igw6VY3HbxxwDMZ0G=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>Looking east from La Roche you can see the rest of mainland South Georgia, separated from us by only 500m of water, but still too far away for us to get to.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWxdWhBvh57bZ4_IUrr51OdNiYKHsGHePSBcZA-98KeW79wbsqSR7UE9neCvb5rGVxH91QFFiapCsnGGj314Qk_gl9Q7UNFkCy3wf3m3noV8pth9g8sKgwqig2GrrUd0Z-ge0sDs1ueVcPOkn7To4Gni-tE612ewo1S4wk5vs-aUSrSOG_r4vSwoRcR37r"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715899147085394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWxdWhBvh57bZ4_IUrr51OdNiYKHsGHePSBcZA-98KeW79wbsqSR7UE9neCvb5rGVxH91QFFiapCsnGGj314Qk_gl9Q7UNFkCy3wf3m3noV8pth9g8sKgwqig2GrrUd0Z-ge0sDs1ueVcPOkn7To4Gni-tE612ewo1S4wk5vs-aUSrSOG_r4vSwoRcR37r=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>And here is La Roche, which provides the backdrop to most of our views. Again the research station can be seen in the bay.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfFWP4vYhGCIUBAb4eLerPhB59d6sHFugTrd5DH1dOnhSsIhCfoPLAr4v6AUPEg572jcyzk1AiHgl2LAc7yfFxmuDDxnBDW8yLcXZnq2GDn9UZSMi430KbeTxSLPqTnrJwBaqIQOcO914PLOzKSliSLJmC6WpRamcbjEtVxxDvV0RGRH88cWl1Ny2LVhEZ"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715912592968130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfFWP4vYhGCIUBAb4eLerPhB59d6sHFugTrd5DH1dOnhSsIhCfoPLAr4v6AUPEg572jcyzk1AiHgl2LAc7yfFxmuDDxnBDW8yLcXZnq2GDn9UZSMi430KbeTxSLPqTnrJwBaqIQOcO914PLOzKSliSLJmC6WpRamcbjEtVxxDvV0RGRH88cWl1Ny2LVhEZ=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have had some nice sunsets recently…<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZDXkOFbKRSpxKQoOsgFSvGVnuyNVn2mIZpUKZOzW8stxZ-O_h0QaBEnCoelL2YnKb4fYrGSC7xKuTd81Cr7dPaQ5BkNyn4TvbRJEQUXaQuWC5otWbG2tkHH-a5h48UuSL4pTr8IqthVx6zamEuHHLG3FXITzn1f7RSqA4SKKNGpNOqr_UYHwfqWeJJUAm"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715917566323922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZDXkOFbKRSpxKQoOsgFSvGVnuyNVn2mIZpUKZOzW8stxZ-O_h0QaBEnCoelL2YnKb4fYrGSC7xKuTd81Cr7dPaQ5BkNyn4TvbRJEQUXaQuWC5otWbG2tkHH-a5h48UuSL4pTr8IqthVx6zamEuHHLG3FXITzn1f7RSqA4SKKNGpNOqr_UYHwfqWeJJUAm=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And some very nice icebergs…<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfEgvUptMrY-NM3h1Abbw3DYzhKBGaHozIGz9ZT8IQ9wySZ-ax6B2RAZ29ERJVGH06e3r-WX5d-ymF1IGDkSRpHcxuGc-PlLFWHJmgb-FJVhAyH_pL1Apj_J6UsZ9OV0SWxkKWHi2BMo12TSwQrkdXyzFTq4u2lRjPnbEDRHIoVFUwsfOM9vTYuZJ9qfqK"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715927220117186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfEgvUptMrY-NM3h1Abbw3DYzhKBGaHozIGz9ZT8IQ9wySZ-ax6B2RAZ29ERJVGH06e3r-WX5d-ymF1IGDkSRpHcxuGc-PlLFWHJmgb-FJVhAyH_pL1Apj_J6UsZ9OV0SWxkKWHi2BMo12TSwQrkdXyzFTq4u2lRjPnbEDRHIoVFUwsfOM9vTYuZJ9qfqK=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>…which the penguins and seals love when they wash up on the beaches.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQZ9lLQUXXf2FfKHvIxAcBJFpefiVviB2YxYjoB7ei_Q0MGCf1A7ZHkmIwEH45XZFbHxP8H3PAyRznptyp4sM9PWI8Kk6X-gqNkSZdO4tRJgK9-flU_Sp6pImi8NgXnvZlDtyu9-KJpb1G5JKDch_nRCAbuZWUDRjf--2THpPf-g5vHe-FpdgyAINxEOTF"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344715934790960546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQZ9lLQUXXf2FfKHvIxAcBJFpefiVviB2YxYjoB7ei_Q0MGCf1A7ZHkmIwEH45XZFbHxP8H3PAyRznptyp4sM9PWI8Kk6X-gqNkSZdO4tRJgK9-flU_Sp6pImi8NgXnvZlDtyu9-KJpb1G5JKDch_nRCAbuZWUDRjf--2THpPf-g5vHe-FpdgyAINxEOTF=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>It is now only a couple of weeks til we leave Bird Island, so we have all started preparing for the end of the season. When we depart, just the four wintering team will remain. We are expecting an exciting three week journey home, travelling on the RRS Sir David Attenborough, via the research stations at King Edward Point on South Georgia, and my old haunts- Signy Island, in the South Orkney Islands.<br /></o:p></p> </div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-25159316480302519252024-02-28T10:28:00.001+00:002024-02-28T10:29:27.756+00:00Late summer<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">As we reach late February, the summer here is already starting to draw to a close. The weather has become quite wild and windy, and today it was only just above freezing and the showers were falling as snow. The days are getting shorter, and it’s still fairly dark at 7am when I get up, and getting dark again by 9pm. The wildlife that has been breeding this summer is growing well, with our first chicks already ready to leave the island.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The gentoo chicks have grown quickly, and are now learning to swim and feed themselves. They are now fully feathered and look very much like the adults. The adults are now the ones that look scruffy- once they have finished breeding, they come ashore for a few weeks to moult all of their old feathers and replace them with new. For a while they look quite rough- this shows one that has finished moulting, and one that is partly moulted. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN7HuwPxsCd8AUcYt-85IrV9yTCqYs0wegkDkqbpZ_pgvDNCkfFRKnZqqHcZfQEuxQ82QRc3C-lDFaUi354MGyQcU2JU__gZoMnCyKtwEY2rBt96sl6rR5CEljhGAUzdfIDIrQtJiGTt_3g6fZ3YB-ZF1l3lpdTbG2TJk-i_4Mj2vGFmsx8BB60ii8OZ25"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597861690103186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN7HuwPxsCd8AUcYt-85IrV9yTCqYs0wegkDkqbpZ_pgvDNCkfFRKnZqqHcZfQEuxQ82QRc3C-lDFaUi354MGyQcU2JU__gZoMnCyKtwEY2rBt96sl6rR5CEljhGAUzdfIDIrQtJiGTt_3g6fZ3YB-ZF1l3lpdTbG2TJk-i_4Mj2vGFmsx8BB60ii8OZ25=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The macaroni penguin chicks have grown well. In this picture you can see how big they were a couple of weeks ago (there are adults and chicks in this colony- the adults have yellow crests).<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiKECdR4T4yuv_sw5XkmVxxmjAz8oEa8KZwkXKrQQY35Zy2Pyr5OiYGM6VY3H85GZtZnEMlx51dqmeQFrLY7rFFPYUTZ5l9elIn7tTn6gTC3LrYyW-r4hsSV9qdM0569hYLw18krxtlqfvLWwlhLGsVV7x4dx04MwsjrA1nZhqMEpewWi7DvFknFWsnedx"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597861979821458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiKECdR4T4yuv_sw5XkmVxxmjAz8oEa8KZwkXKrQQY35Zy2Pyr5OiYGM6VY3H85GZtZnEMlx51dqmeQFrLY7rFFPYUTZ5l9elIn7tTn6gTC3LrYyW-r4hsSV9qdM0569hYLw18krxtlqfvLWwlhLGsVV7x4dx04MwsjrA1nZhqMEpewWi7DvFknFWsnedx=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>The Macaroni chicks are now ready to leave the island and we have been watching them take their first dip in the sea. For them this is much more of a commitment- while the gentoos can just take an easy paddle and swim in the shallows of a sheltered beach, the first encounter of the sea for the macaroni chicks is a big leap off a ledge into the churning ocean below. The Macaroni’s breed in enormous colonies- this is Big Mac, our biggest colony, home to around 30,000 pairs of penguins. The colony appears pink due to the guano, because they eat krill (a pink shrimp-like creature). Each tiny dot is a macaroni penguin nest.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTRn83YMpw2snER5h-fWgiFgh9BH3-nB_mG0AB9Bq3DVucFxA4ckEjQfmZ3RWOY575UjbrarYHPMQzTLOUhXNw0K3oW34e0ybl_XyyhAlUVVlLcFFlyuUblozOxzBfiAO-j1QjAU7yPkABAH-VNpRYwJq1L2uBPlvPaZSfcU5ohsMQ0UTv5djxoM9WbKOD"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597873744356594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTRn83YMpw2snER5h-fWgiFgh9BH3-nB_mG0AB9Bq3DVucFxA4ckEjQfmZ3RWOY575UjbrarYHPMQzTLOUhXNw0K3oW34e0ybl_XyyhAlUVVlLcFFlyuUblozOxzBfiAO-j1QjAU7yPkABAH-VNpRYwJq1L2uBPlvPaZSfcU5ohsMQ0UTv5djxoM9WbKOD=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The giant petrel chicks take a little longer than the penguins to develop. Some are still quite small and fluffy…<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw8gaO3KmrWNXxRtnI3a_12lg__6dZ_QM2xvi89dyHCcNXto69keMCLN4K7LDWMEw8NpE17kebPLtu0JOWnK_Bw5xqT8zhOP1W-Npb-WyALwsMNS1TpaczK5CLsJWalFUyW7N9ZF272AjF-ZfwmxRjPvbiLa5cJxGftaXeDEZ8kH3uXM2EmGkagkbfCU1x"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597883390225698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw8gaO3KmrWNXxRtnI3a_12lg__6dZ_QM2xvi89dyHCcNXto69keMCLN4K7LDWMEw8NpE17kebPLtu0JOWnK_Bw5xqT8zhOP1W-Npb-WyALwsMNS1TpaczK5CLsJWalFUyW7N9ZF272AjF-ZfwmxRjPvbiLa5cJxGftaXeDEZ8kH3uXM2EmGkagkbfCU1x=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>While others have now lost their downy fluff and are showing their feathers. It will be another month before these fledge. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6KYVdZsZSo4ZbBOyb8ZeKfUTEMMeWb6h9JZ8tciW0icuWkLBxClye2_zcmCus0FjOOdsyO1rZ_vISK1-Ak1g24lAifUN1VIkG_HPSuOejRseb1lgov-bu4PCxtbtPADmN1EbMbRc_Nd8WQT-_PtYwjjHcq5Ick8bNdtRV-dcNJBu2fJS8yxWgVXHZ2_2P"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597888920276402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6KYVdZsZSo4ZbBOyb8ZeKfUTEMMeWb6h9JZ8tciW0icuWkLBxClye2_zcmCus0FjOOdsyO1rZ_vISK1-Ak1g24lAifUN1VIkG_HPSuOejRseb1lgov-bu4PCxtbtPADmN1EbMbRc_Nd8WQT-_PtYwjjHcq5Ick8bNdtRV-dcNJBu2fJS8yxWgVXHZ2_2P=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Antarctic fur seals that live around us have changed from little black fuzzy creatures to very smart little soft grey seals that are also now happily playing in the water. They have enormous amounts of character and are very comical to watch.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEL-_J7LDPRsTAoTyNG2mP7e9Zlv9os_35j2SHfFHPNvO59DAUcymGs57-IjHZ3VVnhxpRjPbqOuCihmX5biZI4WqyxOaoG688xC9OMR6oj5sbeLEMZaKTH3RtlmvpzBjycyboC_HXyB6CBYzkmCbX0PzZGQU5okkHvFfBEezL-ZI0qORtBnzMLLEGP3xc"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340597899447684562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEL-_J7LDPRsTAoTyNG2mP7e9Zlv9os_35j2SHfFHPNvO59DAUcymGs57-IjHZ3VVnhxpRjPbqOuCihmX5biZI4WqyxOaoG688xC9OMR6oj5sbeLEMZaKTH3RtlmvpzBjycyboC_HXyB6CBYzkmCbX0PzZGQU5okkHvFfBEezL-ZI0qORtBnzMLLEGP3xc=s320" /></a> <o:p></o:p></p> <p>We are now only a few weeks from the end of the season and are already starting to finish off projects and start packing cargo to send out on the ship- I’m not quite sure where the last couple of months have gone! We’ve also had some fun days out exploring the less visited areas of the island on nice days, and I’ll put some pictures of those on here soon. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-85468867571749413402024-02-11T10:07:00.001+00:002024-02-11T10:09:39.934+00:00Working at Bird Island<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">I have now been back at Bird Island long enough for it to feel like home, and I am still very pleased to be here. I am one of six zoological field assistants here, and between us we conduct long term monitoring studies of the various wildlife. Out work is largely divided into three topics, with two field assistants working on each. My role is to work on the penguin and petrel monitoring, with the other two topics being the seals and albatrosses. Normally these positions are 18 months long, spanning two breeding seasons with a winter in between, but I am filling a short term gap left by a someone else having to leave early. The work is nice because in addition to having our own responsibilities, there is plenty of opportunity to get involved in everyone else’s too.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The wildlife that comes to Bird Island each season to breed has been intensively studied for nearly 70 years, and a permanent, purpose built research station exists here to facilitate this. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPo7xJJX-iGliPn_UTipPnKqDydEKS8ygLXiFM77NF-5zKLZYu1vErQtptRIOHYfHJGikm9k4xY8i-GLa2kI4ImG-Rj6rpBYKOr_SKlm0FV1wua1GVT6vGdDElRtab1msGti-p1FDCvlrbcgE9kfplsJIDoj201kM6ycyougVoOUfvNmpR1Pe2Xl4j_rwQ"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7334284020086489778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPo7xJJX-iGliPn_UTipPnKqDydEKS8ygLXiFM77NF-5zKLZYu1vErQtptRIOHYfHJGikm9k4xY8i-GLa2kI4ImG-Rj6rpBYKOr_SKlm0FV1wua1GVT6vGdDElRtab1msGti-p1FDCvlrbcgE9kfplsJIDoj201kM6ycyougVoOUfvNmpR1Pe2Xl4j_rwQ=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Much of our work is long term monitoring, with the same groups of birds and seals studied each season over many years. Studying a sub-set of the populations is a manageable way of allowing us to see the wider picture of how the various species are doing. We can compare data over many years and monitor the long term trends in the population size and breeding success of each species. As similar data is collected at other research stations around Antarctica, when combined, we can get an overall picture of the health of the Antarctic ecosystems as a whole. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maintaining the long term data sets involves following each species through the breeding season, with various important counts along the way that tell us how the birds are doing and attempts to explain good/poor breeding season. For the penguins, this starts in spring (November). We weigh adult penguins who have returned to breed (the heavier the birds on arrival, the better condition they are in for breeding). We then monitoring the start of the nesting season (to get first egg laying dates etc (to enable subsequent population counts to be consistent across the years). Later we do nest counts of certain colonies once the birds have all returned and settled. Further through the season we conduct chick counts of the same nests once the eggs have hatched (in a good year where food is plentiful, gentoo penguins can successfully rear two chicks, in a poor food year they manage to raise only one to fledging, or none at all). Fledgling counts of the same colonies are then done to see how many chicks per pair survive (by now we are in January), and finally chick weighing to see how heavy they are (and therefore what condition they are in) when they are ready to fledge at the end of the season. The penguins mostly nest on the beaches by the shore (gentoo penguins)…<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFtMRR6H5BeTK1H-498m4PKfWJDNK-gpOQXTQwx12kFUXBPL6ebnNcn9JWnyiE2eBJfyqCIfLN7dhCMIAOeKOuujkqHtB1zanMdUCmLC5kO4Un03tOxoi9AoumFRNXeZKZ_As0gO0qG2NsdT4C8pw3qnoc2JxGIkO8fEjTEPTRZNcGSoYCq9OjG4lykW0W"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7334284025381228626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFtMRR6H5BeTK1H-498m4PKfWJDNK-gpOQXTQwx12kFUXBPL6ebnNcn9JWnyiE2eBJfyqCIfLN7dhCMIAOeKOuujkqHtB1zanMdUCmLC5kO4Un03tOxoi9AoumFRNXeZKZ_As0gO0qG2NsdT4C8pw3qnoc2JxGIkO8fEjTEPTRZNcGSoYCq9OjG4lykW0W=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">or on rocky areas (macaroni penguins).<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKTOfp0Gp0J79hYRXYQySzMmZbUCh87A0S7gNGaoPiz5SBJre-GWfmIM_vWXeJbOaNC5U4qldlo8MrAhiaWV8pfBDEnLX6LDhgmDbQ5CWFwKCJThiB0kb76uXtJ2bPVTDugYxxrOWlQasU7SHVM3k7jjq-U_sTXWlThqqhkJpirhxwKnC9LJGuFlfKhOK-"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7334284030668208450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKTOfp0Gp0J79hYRXYQySzMmZbUCh87A0S7gNGaoPiz5SBJre-GWfmIM_vWXeJbOaNC5U4qldlo8MrAhiaWV8pfBDEnLX6LDhgmDbQ5CWFwKCJThiB0kb76uXtJ2bPVTDugYxxrOWlQasU7SHVM3k7jjq-U_sTXWlThqqhkJpirhxwKnC9LJGuFlfKhOK-=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The giant petrels (and many of the other flying birds studied here) are monitored in a slightly different way to the penguins. For these, we walk their nesting area daily early in the breeding season, and mark each nest with a numbered stake on the day the egg is laid. The giant petrels build individual nests of moss across the meadows. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6NLlflGslpGoAfyB4Iq9FIIvFAvN_5_XTl8_KYoq-imUgD_lduAbI1rJtUyra1N9DJOGeeZ5e8ow6oW7hx3RDIGfsWotXrhUhwsbWOgsCAK09lpFkzGi82_A19yULfW11e9qKnOTwLDQa3C8s-qZStHOs7j6Qcc-bj-lSI1thzobrt2cNAMc_6mw8GRsG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7334284035061018834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6NLlflGslpGoAfyB4Iq9FIIvFAvN_5_XTl8_KYoq-imUgD_lduAbI1rJtUyra1N9DJOGeeZ5e8ow6oW7hx3RDIGfsWotXrhUhwsbWOgsCAK09lpFkzGi82_A19yULfW11e9qKnOTwLDQa3C8s-qZStHOs7j6Qcc-bj-lSI1thzobrt2cNAMc_6mw8GRsG=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each individual nest is then monitored through the breeding season until the chick (hopefully) fledges at the end of the summer. We put uniquely numbered leg rings on these birds and their chicks. This enables us to see how the birds interact with each other, who is breeding with who, and how long they live. Ringing chicks provides valuable data as it means we know exactly how old they are. Most albatrosses and giant petrels return to where they hatched to breed. This is a nesting pair of wandering albatrosses. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZF6sBGNdOtNwNQOOGtXnKCPI4G2nliveuog686abGmU0TqD1zTutCYXdzZNcBMlzWQ6-68zfbgT3A9LY_94ilRS2cgL6odw4ydYGvlzgA1Z4NF20T9qzWugwNi1OlPmSlqaqms8wUpBwpC2Q3IwTZZELvvykfhnKWqSMObBKEqGaWsfMvtNvPVXpH_IXU"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7334284039393658866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZF6sBGNdOtNwNQOOGtXnKCPI4G2nliveuog686abGmU0TqD1zTutCYXdzZNcBMlzWQ6-68zfbgT3A9LY_94ilRS2cgL6odw4ydYGvlzgA1Z4NF20T9qzWugwNi1OlPmSlqaqms8wUpBwpC2Q3IwTZZELvvykfhnKWqSMObBKEqGaWsfMvtNvPVXpH_IXU=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our oldest albatrosses were ringed as chicks in the 1960’s and some of our oldest breeders are now 60 years old- it is a real privilege to be able to see and work with these birds. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In addition to the long term monitoring programme, we study other species, and other aspects of the wildlife’s behaviour, but I’ll write more about that another time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-6976066172974918342024-01-30T22:16:00.000+00:002024-01-30T22:52:04.080+00:00Bird Island<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">I have now been back at Bird Island for over a week and am very much settled back into life here. I’m conscious that I have a new set of followers of my blog and many of you will be unfamiliar with much of the work I have done in the past and where I am. Therefore I’ll try and explain a bit about it all in my next couple of blogs.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bird Island is a small sub-Antarctic island that lies at the western end of South Georgia, to the south east of the Falkland Islands in the southern hemisphere. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZpN7AG6c5XVOQOBMKC_bj4qvohF_GbVe1-KZ7v2sgl3qHMWoLX6ko4Rxl0iEgOOxMmHlnd-Otib6qnNDEPSJ1mrgvz1B19OfkiOugFU7Y7rEET2RtqTyCQTSKd__cU9bSKY_4mKDfxj7mAmA4yQ6DI31qNMi3xutBukMLpxMNmsopUhWf9YnCDbPM_fgr"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019286280771602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZpN7AG6c5XVOQOBMKC_bj4qvohF_GbVe1-KZ7v2sgl3qHMWoLX6ko4Rxl0iEgOOxMmHlnd-Otib6qnNDEPSJ1mrgvz1B19OfkiOugFU7Y7rEET2RtqTyCQTSKd__cU9bSKY_4mKDfxj7mAmA4yQ6DI31qNMi3xutBukMLpxMNmsopUhWf9YnCDbPM_fgr=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The island is small, about 3 miles long and about half a mile wide, separated from mainland South Georgia by a 500m stretch of water. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLykdEM6yao4chCvLhg21Zr5CM_Od7XBLsiYrNJDl3WocMGz19DxileRJK3sgFHcI9XaBGG6OY4eOX36N_c76h7P_US12VB0AdRRGfS91PkA_IdEnu9qi5ep-FNTTpEz1asA0yWVVhRaW9a6H1veyj-AXfkTdKSJz8atkIc3dSPrcjkRtbK8JqerN-q886"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019292999077442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLykdEM6yao4chCvLhg21Zr5CM_Od7XBLsiYrNJDl3WocMGz19DxileRJK3sgFHcI9XaBGG6OY4eOX36N_c76h7P_US12VB0AdRRGfS91PkA_IdEnu9qi5ep-FNTTpEz1asA0yWVVhRaW9a6H1veyj-AXfkTdKSJz8atkIc3dSPrcjkRtbK8JqerN-q886=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bird Island is home to vast volumes of internationally important wildlife and a small group of seal and seabird scientists (working for the British Antarctic Survey) live and work at the research station here to study them. Being in the southern hemisphere it is now summer, so we have quite long hours of daylight. The weather is relatively mild at this time of year (between about 0 and 5 degrees), and usually quite windy and rainy. When the sun shines the island takes on a green, almost tropical look, and is very beautiful. Icebergs can be seen all year round. Much of the island is covered in deep tussac grass with mossy wet meadows and small ponds. During the winter months, the island is frequently snow and ice covered, but at this time of year this usually falls as rain.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bird Island on the day we arrived.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhj3i1Lshi5QkZQe741bzupVRPVrwcg46M_fJ_9mS3Zc-p05CtxEoiQQqhJWQBv9yOEZBaTJSQZ_pmUjK91u6t9JxazXGiUedKilx3eSUeqQQI2mzbDFdYVtlRI55QzOpgnew_x9fMwjG-MNKMtvboDvPnhpt6irdYkl60Ji8N9KkLq2p2wajh8bTPlG2TA"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019296000293522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhj3i1Lshi5QkZQe741bzupVRPVrwcg46M_fJ_9mS3Zc-p05CtxEoiQQqhJWQBv9yOEZBaTJSQZ_pmUjK91u6t9JxazXGiUedKilx3eSUeqQQI2mzbDFdYVtlRI55QzOpgnew_x9fMwjG-MNKMtvboDvPnhpt6irdYkl60Ji8N9KkLq2p2wajh8bTPlG2TA=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p>The research station is modern and comfortable, and this season there are 13 of us here. The group is made up of 7 seal and bird scientists studying the wildlife (me), the station leader (who keeps everything running smoothly on station), and a project team of 5 who are installing solar panels and working on other infrastructure projects on the station. <o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7c_09dnHgeDUjt9PzgoOXlNtxr66bATOq_qC-KzDn90Z-f9AQVusLKZqKiPt9cnfyIhn474BycInuqSvMQ_TU0cDceZYPYSL5CL_QS_Q7QFZrhz6a5qgNHo0w9NSY7v-4HmKJ7tiexPFdSuLiqByMYyKtVm7btQKOaN8g2MSJSCS8avkik5lJnWpptx9l"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019298881824034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7c_09dnHgeDUjt9PzgoOXlNtxr66bATOq_qC-KzDn90Z-f9AQVusLKZqKiPt9cnfyIhn474BycInuqSvMQ_TU0cDceZYPYSL5CL_QS_Q7QFZrhz6a5qgNHo0w9NSY7v-4HmKJ7tiexPFdSuLiqByMYyKtVm7btQKOaN8g2MSJSCS8avkik5lJnWpptx9l=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The island is sloping, with rocky beaches along the southern coastline…<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtdLEzb6WjLKrXbTAgIzToPw5AQMZGcY9tfmdym_xqBwZrvaUv6Z_lFtg8wq_on62WryGkP4mJWGBw6CC_Yb0YC2ckKSru0ttQRHOhSpfAKVoWk98-gDSEU1jGnzstaB7gHVXfwIbGL9SiH_mY4K0DHkPzxdt8SlyE_Jmi_UtIpM_H5m6OOWDGeRbTbRO7"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019305809623490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtdLEzb6WjLKrXbTAgIzToPw5AQMZGcY9tfmdym_xqBwZrvaUv6Z_lFtg8wq_on62WryGkP4mJWGBw6CC_Yb0YC2ckKSru0ttQRHOhSpfAKVoWk98-gDSEU1jGnzstaB7gHVXfwIbGL9SiH_mY4K0DHkPzxdt8SlyE_Jmi_UtIpM_H5m6OOWDGeRbTbRO7=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which rise up to huge cliffs that plunge into the sea, all along the northern coastline.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6GIgqRffkrZjtdY3Id6HswuBu3XpI1IITE9HEKoFmBJzI67dV18ps8qwAxSst5ZpzVKBfwMt_al2v8JdLfa-lf36VIZ71WxumwZiNhMpmpMLNVRNt2rJKoNcc5KZvVG9Cu7N4AQzc3REx5L3R7QM4ctaDlLNZk-jwCuQtuOaYsQx8_V-GselLA9V38LFV"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019308559081490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6GIgqRffkrZjtdY3Id6HswuBu3XpI1IITE9HEKoFmBJzI67dV18ps8qwAxSst5ZpzVKBfwMt_al2v8JdLfa-lf36VIZ71WxumwZiNhMpmpMLNVRNt2rJKoNcc5KZvVG9Cu7N4AQzc3REx5L3R7QM4ctaDlLNZk-jwCuQtuOaYsQx8_V-GselLA9V38LFV=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The island is filled with a melee of wildlife, including seals, albatrosses and penguins who come to the island to breed each year. The meadows are used by breeding wandering albatrosses and giant petrels. Black-browed, grey-headed and light-mantled sooty albatrosses nest on the steeper ground. Beneath our feet, smaller burrow-nesting petrels and prions (like tiny albatrosses) make their home. In summer the beaches are busy Antarctic fur seal breeding colonies, and elephant seals also breed. Leopard seals visit the shores during the winter months. Gentoo, macaroni and chinstrap penguins nest on the beaches, while large groups of king penguins also hang around (but do not breed). There is also an endemic South Georgia pintail duck, and a small songbird, the South Georgia pipit. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The island is therefore a delightfully busy, and noisy place! I’ll write about my work here in my next blog, but meanwhile here are a few penguins for those that have asked for them.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbu9kmktIgD5TKFBkF9B6Kwxs8Gos55EJdmzKno6OPj_ZQKS0uDQpky9URqB97cEntyyRjceuO7nvM8CSgX_95u63n-5dyZe2Ab0P08FCuWBXpGOQJMYOqCakn2ijeMb45jr8OQGX7baJoxef11hGlpZnEDBCI6ia-ghZcxmFdatwpLG8yzvCX_DsWuFz3"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7330019314107298130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbu9kmktIgD5TKFBkF9B6Kwxs8Gos55EJdmzKno6OPj_ZQKS0uDQpky9URqB97cEntyyRjceuO7nvM8CSgX_95u63n-5dyZe2Ab0P08FCuWBXpGOQJMYOqCakn2ijeMb45jr8OQGX7baJoxef11hGlpZnEDBCI6ia-ghZcxmFdatwpLG8yzvCX_DsWuFz3=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p></div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-27283572971614356102024-01-20T13:10:00.000+00:002024-03-12T08:16:20.106+00:00The journey south<div class="WordSection1"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I have now safely arrived and settled in at Bird Island, South Georgia, which is to be my home until April. The 9000 mile journey began last Tuesday when my luggage and I were dropped off at Darlington train station by Adam and I caught the train down to my parents in Lincolnshire. The next day my parents took me to Cambridge, which is where the British Antarctic Survey offices and labs are. Here I met a small group of other BAS staff who were also heading south and we were taken to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Here we met more BAS staff and boarded the plane. By now our group size had increased to 9 people, all of us heading for South Georgia.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The plane was a relatively ordinary military version of the Airbus A330 (and not a Hercules, which some people have asked me). <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjumv0mewlI7wyfklm1wCzdvARkgxrNTh-THkDtFqAKaAsZ0cqwD3axBkTdyNHBlqLFMTevD9O08yN_hUO7_HSjGhxI5uNhdnU-efrUc37lr9D7-yDnmRN8J2es58M-3om6CSfEMZnug-2NX3h37lTyQFcI408XZ0lflUy-PnCpk8ta7v4rA8GgunCk3QoV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2284" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjumv0mewlI7wyfklm1wCzdvARkgxrNTh-THkDtFqAKaAsZ0cqwD3axBkTdyNHBlqLFMTevD9O08yN_hUO7_HSjGhxI5uNhdnU-efrUc37lr9D7-yDnmRN8J2es58M-3om6CSfEMZnug-2NX3h37lTyQFcI408XZ0lflUy-PnCpk8ta7v4rA8GgunCk3QoV" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: left;">We passed a pleasant journey on a plane that was only half full, which was nice as it meant 2 seats each and just enough space to sleep on the journey. The journey takes about 17 hours, with a short stop at Ascension Island for refuelling approximately half way there. Ascension Island is a small rocky island far out in the Atlantic, a little south of the equator, and was a pleasant 26 degrees when we got off the plane. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuITFTNt5pBc2qmgNGOIeeu4eoG393c2fwdWDcWbt2Thk0fH7yV8-gCXsA2rgfHAEvGN_65WYFE6FSU8QjQHOV4cj_j89H6o0PaMnzg3Ea2xe9s0PetM0qN9BTm2bxvlZqh3SotJnqpKgA8yIAXkoTyvwgfa5bFVfBT_p_S7-I8GIgm7fAfsy74KK-Ki2Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuITFTNt5pBc2qmgNGOIeeu4eoG393c2fwdWDcWbt2Thk0fH7yV8-gCXsA2rgfHAEvGN_65WYFE6FSU8QjQHOV4cj_j89H6o0PaMnzg3Ea2xe9s0PetM0qN9BTm2bxvlZqh3SotJnqpKgA8yIAXkoTyvwgfa5bFVfBT_p_S7-I8GIgm7fAfsy74KK-Ki2Z" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Sadly we aren't allowed out of the terminal to explore the island as we're still in transit but it was nice to get off the plane and stretch our legs (I did spend a week on the island on a previous trip so I didn't feel I missed out too much by it only being a very short stop on this occasion). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQjLnKVVXfxMR1R2-web5v1cStTHxFWW66f3-DdxnwnXY013M--x7-IHLOUsbrJO7NvFYV2I_lTp8HGX-kDAtVWRhvC2URTU-7bHBdkErRngwG19CrmH8fsB_Q9sMzvY5uUQ2QwApzt6CNjcHcgibi2NbHLB1GRtXKtH6A5EWAwKaFoveJeeQ-t1APsRna" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQjLnKVVXfxMR1R2-web5v1cStTHxFWW66f3-DdxnwnXY013M--x7-IHLOUsbrJO7NvFYV2I_lTp8HGX-kDAtVWRhvC2URTU-7bHBdkErRngwG19CrmH8fsB_Q9sMzvY5uUQ2QwApzt6CNjcHcgibi2NbHLB1GRtXKtH6A5EWAwKaFoveJeeQ-t1APsRna" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Once the plane was refuelled, we continued on our way to Mount Pleasant Airbase in the Falkland Islands. Another bus journey from Mount Pleasant and we arrived in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. The Falklands are windswept and vast (like a larger wilder version of Shetland). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOHws-HeSyvjP3_K_V4Ja-CnTcKIZTQTMponz7PfjmrYxE-lJvRiW2yWtkQZ4HI93lw4yvbDRrAg8vQpdkjDcKD08gC8zCSgsvDCCGIa0tP1fEoP_CwfZ8kuxQSSxJ499ZVepGul3K28BUjEbM_8qnyExK7-sDCK89755NXn9CYVJofAQFzZgS7cEkjCAm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOHws-HeSyvjP3_K_V4Ja-CnTcKIZTQTMponz7PfjmrYxE-lJvRiW2yWtkQZ4HI93lw4yvbDRrAg8vQpdkjDcKD08gC8zCSgsvDCCGIa0tP1fEoP_CwfZ8kuxQSSxJ499ZVepGul3K28BUjEbM_8qnyExK7-sDCK89755NXn9CYVJofAQFzZgS7cEkjCAm" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The majority of its ~3500 inhabitants live in the capital, which sprawls along the seafront, in an array of brightly coloured, mostly wooden-clad buildings. We spent one night in the Malvina hotel in Stanley, which was just enough time for a walk along the seafront, where I spotted my first penguin and seal.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggd8d_S-oDyTX-4H7tlRlS1tlQHHVVGXKAqQNFNkVX8lqQkeh6ELarHIHLOssB480-_wFHGpbsLZ33r5iSAU50UhhnaZvNlDT9Vai6_UzNBzMeiM2D0fCFfJ48NgyWnsrbLw8pObG7ImQ1XJWJxCYFUyf22Q-uNcLE_ay0-YIEj1uWEUhD03EfX1gZyq3Z"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7326167676423279346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggd8d_S-oDyTX-4H7tlRlS1tlQHHVVGXKAqQNFNkVX8lqQkeh6ELarHIHLOssB480-_wFHGpbsLZ33r5iSAU50UhhnaZvNlDT9Vai6_UzNBzMeiM2D0fCFfJ48NgyWnsrbLw8pObG7ImQ1XJWJxCYFUyf22Q-uNcLE_ay0-YIEj1uWEUhD03EfX1gZyq3Z=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The next morning we were on the move again (by now it was Friday). This time onto the MV Pharos SG, the Fishery Patrol Vessel for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. We spent nearly 3 days onboard, heading from the Falkland Island to Bird Island which lies at the western end of South Georgia. As the ship is quite small, and the swell was pretty big, the crossing was quite rough, but the time passed pleasantly enough. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_GDul_ifDn5a-0Oq_gyvnGoGkV_oZY2gpkC2u7x0ReNrTGj9OBulvwSsNtIpeXBxHgoC319aRooF5gaGYgUhGevK0NSgogV3rKf8-yk_XRugZdz45MAMyUy6xaCMVqETyLKlZLPAWKoOfOTdn-qyGM8Eac8zjjFdDljennJOId5W2bCh3uEX6lDKNo5oG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_GDul_ifDn5a-0Oq_gyvnGoGkV_oZY2gpkC2u7x0ReNrTGj9OBulvwSsNtIpeXBxHgoC319aRooF5gaGYgUhGevK0NSgogV3rKf8-yk_XRugZdz45MAMyUy6xaCMVqETyLKlZLPAWKoOfOTdn-qyGM8Eac8zjjFdDljennJOId5W2bCh3uEX6lDKNo5oG" width="320" /></a></div>There are two research stations on South Georgia. Four of us are heading for Bird Island Research Station while the remainder of the group are heading for King Edward Point Research Station. The group heading there made our journey very interesting- they are whale scientists and were heading there to study humpback whales. They were a very interesting bunch doing some fascinating science, and kept a permanent watch on the bridge of the ship for whales during the entire journey. This was great as there was always someone there to tell everyone if whales were spotted. The journey was mostly spent eating, or watching the birds that were following the ship. This one is a wandering albatross. <o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh52bAuCOj79gciB3T44_gQPQcyQ7dUXiTJpi6HEX3xozHjQrhfn9WPuE_4ax2hhh3EDPrGCDMspgglIt-x1KgrTXnjpW79zywNerezQUpapeiKjsSvyNYc_SBeqpfftOTqyRTqGFBJGoeY4Eb4FKUBHE3ms1GJu3xHUWX5eda0ex3kHLd9WqA0aIQneTE9"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7326167685184158482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh52bAuCOj79gciB3T44_gQPQcyQ7dUXiTJpi6HEX3xozHjQrhfn9WPuE_4ax2hhh3EDPrGCDMspgglIt-x1KgrTXnjpW79zywNerezQUpapeiKjsSvyNYc_SBeqpfftOTqyRTqGFBJGoeY4Eb4FKUBHE3ms1GJu3xHUWX5eda0ex3kHLd9WqA0aIQneTE9=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As we got closer to South Georgia, there were quite a few icebergs. I have never quite got over my fascination for icebergs. Every one is different and the colours and shapes are ever changing with the light.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfmyiGuCsAqETvK7EQ6NFuJLMAChhUhoWNM0yc8Yz1w9OQUJftXBPsPFlMhk1VP9rVJLb5yaTzrd8rDyptkUfY5ltKIxsaBtxb3oaWYWitAO6Bu50uwYGB6XpCdAywZMsoKKce4ZjJbfuQJKGMD5N_nkGIJRoRmAgiHol88pGBNakc9wRpmqhAY_6KjZfl"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7326167689137162594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfmyiGuCsAqETvK7EQ6NFuJLMAChhUhoWNM0yc8Yz1w9OQUJftXBPsPFlMhk1VP9rVJLb5yaTzrd8rDyptkUfY5ltKIxsaBtxb3oaWYWitAO6Bu50uwYGB6XpCdAywZMsoKKce4ZjJbfuQJKGMD5N_nkGIJRoRmAgiHol88pGBNakc9wRpmqhAY_6KjZfl=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We finally arrived safely at Bird Island on Monday, where four of us disembarked the Pharos in small boats to our new home. We receive a very warm welcome from those currently at the island and quickly settled down to life on station.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYAnaW1DlU4MwsUgXT468DhQRQunF095ILoCx6KbuNMqAGUm2-qfegjIChtVtgaM5jiwRUlXW7H1vIElQ51SJWlJQfAXOetNgh0YW6ivhYtEeWVudiUMWRcufRK2OUrRQ6OXxQbEAuVkCAXbLbzgYZekBivfpnre1N2O6IF_DRzMFR04rYkmlcRd1JLYp8"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7326167693980441858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYAnaW1DlU4MwsUgXT468DhQRQunF095ILoCx6KbuNMqAGUm2-qfegjIChtVtgaM5jiwRUlXW7H1vIElQ51SJWlJQfAXOetNgh0YW6ivhYtEeWVudiUMWRcufRK2OUrRQ6OXxQbEAuVkCAXbLbzgYZekBivfpnre1N2O6IF_DRzMFR04rYkmlcRd1JLYp8=s320" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-16510238990206911592023-12-13T13:35:00.001+00:002023-12-13T13:42:33.421+00:00Back to Bird Island!<div class="WordSection1">After nearly a five year gap, I am very excited to be able to tell you that in January I will be returning to Bird Island, South Georgia, to work for the British Antarctic Survey again. I’ll be back working with the penguins and other wildlife there for a short (3-month) deployment, returning to the UK in April.<o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal">I leave the UK on 11<sup>th</sup> January. More details and pictures will follow soon, once things start to happen!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSnt4_GdYtaimFidNRCzsix50LQrbKmx92BrvhOGrLsTKpNsMC2LKTyUI0YS7AgKzPBWMcGuHdyBuQPXWna6u4N1qTi5Mt2pX9iA73CzBkSvyRa6qmyoeIqwJKfC0p-i86vlvpfJlrpDJ7UWGH0j37V0OwZXxT7FTK7ZOhMq1ARfdFFsDLwN2sjAPQPSyu" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="1000" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSnt4_GdYtaimFidNRCzsix50LQrbKmx92BrvhOGrLsTKpNsMC2LKTyUI0YS7AgKzPBWMcGuHdyBuQPXWna6u4N1qTi5Mt2pX9iA73CzBkSvyRa6qmyoeIqwJKfC0p-i86vlvpfJlrpDJ7UWGH0j37V0OwZXxT7FTK7ZOhMq1ARfdFFsDLwN2sjAPQPSyu=w366-h175" width="366" /></a></div></div> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-8627047420093413722018-03-28T13:27:00.000+01:002018-03-28T13:32:50.837+01:00The end of the season<p>With the ship only 2 days away, we are now all busy getting ready to leave. Fieldwork is complete, boxes are packed and we start thinking about closing down the station itself.</p> <p>The weather has been beautiful this week which has made a lovely end to a season that has been largely mild, wet and windy. It has really felt like summer.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc8ryBvZWuHKukqcFVjyPTOXQHk7GkZ_vFKHMh93OXLR_N63ZUIg0n6DqSzNXPYtdREb6q7EBNG9q_RpMh9tKfMTJJS_mIZMUFrUcSRadUcWVVkrYp1Rk9io6MFN_XetwLtRznqS7FFO_/s1600/heoiimkfdfjgmddo-770872.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc8ryBvZWuHKukqcFVjyPTOXQHk7GkZ_vFKHMh93OXLR_N63ZUIg0n6DqSzNXPYtdREb6q7EBNG9q_RpMh9tKfMTJJS_mIZMUFrUcSRadUcWVVkrYp1Rk9io6MFN_XetwLtRznqS7FFO_/s320/heoiimkfdfjgmddo-770872.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6537972614210076498" /></a></p> <p>Yesterdays sunrise over Coronation Island was well worth going out to see. Specially as the sun now gets up around 7:15am so it is not even an early start! <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9mZaF99O8Tuq_2QbpHgm6Np2rbPFZ15rwxKFIVJewNVDSRBs0_imN2VkOOQ3iQ-vzfp5zZnD7T46U9Os2E83qqM_2mXDBfsKMyD6KN2FV2pi1t3dtllIeRQLB6X6_rOUdP2qqEdR3-bm/s1600/elhhddihmjmkbbcb-773214.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9mZaF99O8Tuq_2QbpHgm6Np2rbPFZ15rwxKFIVJewNVDSRBs0_imN2VkOOQ3iQ-vzfp5zZnD7T46U9Os2E83qqM_2mXDBfsKMyD6KN2FV2pi1t3dtllIeRQLB6X6_rOUdP2qqEdR3-bm/s320/elhhddihmjmkbbcb-773214.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6537972618932843538" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBUJHTybTTjZA20J5oHAEHmq9Szg3qPuS1WVn_ZAt_S5rqcnk0YHzpBeYQqNXk-7f1Fpgf4RjH9wl-4Y1X3fZsBzJNUruXZv5NBu1nC7tI3HabSklhlTVsJCP1hDtKid2n4Zp2ujUL7hC/s1600/oghnclcfighnecop-775045.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBUJHTybTTjZA20J5oHAEHmq9Szg3qPuS1WVn_ZAt_S5rqcnk0YHzpBeYQqNXk-7f1Fpgf4RjH9wl-4Y1X3fZsBzJNUruXZv5NBu1nC7tI3HabSklhlTVsJCP1hDtKid2n4Zp2ujUL7hC/s320/oghnclcfighnecop-775045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6537972627594648370" /></a></p> <p>The moon over Coronation in the evening was just as pretty.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq3qb55OEu3cMBqFhnLnmuRAP3SVGP7Vizec_2lMN7nrSd4Sr8yVLuaJFjAl8F_hiM3vfVNehxZvTqf0dQbCbGS7p4sCfiyuHA1GyyouoiCdRrpdogfIUSbMFHo16f6L_M33yUe7vBEMN/s1600/hcanndcdinnebiji-776690.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq3qb55OEu3cMBqFhnLnmuRAP3SVGP7Vizec_2lMN7nrSd4Sr8yVLuaJFjAl8F_hiM3vfVNehxZvTqf0dQbCbGS7p4sCfiyuHA1GyyouoiCdRrpdogfIUSbMFHo16f6L_M33yUe7vBEMN/s320/hcanndcdinnebiji-776690.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6537972639801221298" /></a></p> <p>The ship is due on Friday and we expect to leave sometime on Sunday, bound for the Falklands. The Signy webcam will be decomissioned with the services so will vanish shortly, but you can follow my progress home on the Ernest Shackleton ship webcam and ship tracker (links to both of these are under the "interesting links" on the right hand side of this page, although the ship tracker isn't always very good at updating). We will be onboard until 6th April. <br> </p> <p>We fly home on 6th April, from the Falkland Islands, arriving back into the UK on 7th. I am looking forward to getting home in time for spring. <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-50943805051028111042018-03-18T17:04:00.000+00:002018-03-18T18:24:27.669+00:00MarchIt is now March. For us, March is the end of the season and time to start thinking about going home. My chinstrap chicks have all fledged. Unlike the Adelies, who travel south to moult, the chinstrap adults will stay at Signy to moult. Many of them will stand with their partners on their nest site while they do this. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4yhDHC38QPbjcNTEuZSN70I_6_fYrGhX_iqRbTO8YFLaSn95MhnllafknAfJ7NZgUJjNoW9dpgKQi2iohEe58EVBMQLyqZH_w9hwiUj_mgvHlmWY1TCI3psYkiIeGAo9ZpDgv5KzMpFV/s1600/beildnogecihobgb-716118.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334539761166530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4yhDHC38QPbjcNTEuZSN70I_6_fYrGhX_iqRbTO8YFLaSn95MhnllafknAfJ7NZgUJjNoW9dpgKQi2iohEe58EVBMQLyqZH_w9hwiUj_mgvHlmWY1TCI3psYkiIeGAo9ZpDgv5KzMpFV/s320/beildnogecihobgb-716118.jpg" /></a><br />
Some of them look very scruffy as their new feathers grow and push out the old ones. Sometimes the ground is littered with so many feathers it looks like it has been snowing. It takes a suprisingly short time for the entire set of feathers to be replaced (only 2 weeks). I always feel that this is the equivalent of going out and buying a brand new waterproof coat for the winter months. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G8NYu_KILc7LRdQ305fdvdfdNYZegKritzMPByeVjoP4Ut9CnXcrzDWNf6n_wwWnmYodelHOtF5-THPcRHswIX25QPnGl1B2W2VMlHm_SSNQ-OwE6wxQrprHM2cu6LXpnfVIOc3BLARY/s1600/hapcffjckpdmgagb-717753.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334547415319394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G8NYu_KILc7LRdQ305fdvdfdNYZegKritzMPByeVjoP4Ut9CnXcrzDWNf6n_wwWnmYodelHOtF5-THPcRHswIX25QPnGl1B2W2VMlHm_SSNQ-OwE6wxQrprHM2cu6LXpnfVIOc3BLARY/s320/hapcffjckpdmgagb-717753.jpg" /></a><br />
The fur seals also moult at Signy. They also look scruffy, often looking like they need a good hoovering!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6pwLZxXKYiOi2MhngEowLdf5VFmz7VcRk5A5kmvXLSX_5mTtD7b9XmltAgs1r_t0Z6MXS1o3_qZEX6yQYZYaKhrcq_ahQRst2tVLyegx1q3OKL_wQTh6PY2xPyvupnZuAV5Jtv43A0pu/s1600/oinekjblahgaglpa-719129.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334552757034274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6pwLZxXKYiOi2MhngEowLdf5VFmz7VcRk5A5kmvXLSX_5mTtD7b9XmltAgs1r_t0Z6MXS1o3_qZEX6yQYZYaKhrcq_ahQRst2tVLyegx1q3OKL_wQTh6PY2xPyvupnZuAV5Jtv43A0pu/s320/oinekjblahgaglpa-719129.jpg" /></a><br />
The elephant seal fur seems to peel off in layers rather than individual hairs falling out. They always look very smart once they have moulted. This youngster looked particularly nice. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO0U03STs1sKAS3l5tvYHHrFjeriAwmTPw-wVh4ItP3o54PmFXk6YF8sRIhn9fPEFfO3rd7uashY5o4PkWo4KFYNJOSQgwrU-WFP3XWIonlQ5KZ4aKTWs_LrJxX41yQQF1Zj01O-y8GvV/s1600/klojjeidpdldaebm-720410.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334558079436098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO0U03STs1sKAS3l5tvYHHrFjeriAwmTPw-wVh4ItP3o54PmFXk6YF8sRIhn9fPEFfO3rd7uashY5o4PkWo4KFYNJOSQgwrU-WFP3XWIonlQ5KZ4aKTWs_LrJxX41yQQF1Zj01O-y8GvV/s320/klojjeidpdldaebm-720410.jpg" /></a><br />
It always seems a shame to me that they grow into something like this!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDkzFaRFaFFdEktcbZEIkqE15PWP_zU2oskrTFrRQ_1FcRdvglr5Ox80fekVvqs4LFWvArOMLAG2MW-bY0o5ZsvWomzEFuqfHRtiY_MUh7roTjl1Mw3CNwHdDaBu2v6ksg86jdxPTOQts/s1600/ljckppaddkjnddae-721934.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334566188303394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDkzFaRFaFFdEktcbZEIkqE15PWP_zU2oskrTFrRQ_1FcRdvglr5Ox80fekVvqs4LFWvArOMLAG2MW-bY0o5ZsvWomzEFuqfHRtiY_MUh7roTjl1Mw3CNwHdDaBu2v6ksg86jdxPTOQts/s320/ljckppaddkjnddae-721934.jpg" /></a><br />
My fieldwork is now complete. Instead jobs now include things like giving my field huts at Gourlay a new coat of wood preserver (although this year we only had enough to do the hut on the right).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HmIo-I9RjfnlddZgY2uMKvPEELZc0E9MVX8oG8-BkElZyRBtPGzNmAaEErjeyiALYtyVln3xjaGLjTKG2OEGmaS100rdoDq_jkt04Sn0SWq-0r00_wZPyOkWQtreVhwSZA6ah2FDEg2W/s1600/ooffflgmibjbofjh-723072.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334567133213058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HmIo-I9RjfnlddZgY2uMKvPEELZc0E9MVX8oG8-BkElZyRBtPGzNmAaEErjeyiALYtyVln3xjaGLjTKG2OEGmaS100rdoDq_jkt04Sn0SWq-0r00_wZPyOkWQtreVhwSZA6ah2FDEg2W/s320/ooffflgmibjbofjh-723072.jpg" /></a><br />
I've also just finished the job of washing my nest marker bricks. This year the sun shone and it was a pleasant task.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OwBXOnydOG0cPRMsAuElq_RL0mkVOkyTINAQjSGDWDPgT6Zqj7HRcBbVEkEpgY2J5D43bwDat37rSsbrfaZMZhJFCHn4L8IQMLbE3iIWcs7rqm-v0tB8i8dMoyHTCZm08jYCsuGx8lFB/s1600/cnjmkjkpakghagfa-723944.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334574375607954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OwBXOnydOG0cPRMsAuElq_RL0mkVOkyTINAQjSGDWDPgT6Zqj7HRcBbVEkEpgY2J5D43bwDat37rSsbrfaZMZhJFCHn4L8IQMLbE3iIWcs7rqm-v0tB8i8dMoyHTCZm08jYCsuGx8lFB/s320/cnjmkjkpakghagfa-723944.jpg" /></a><br />
Now they are all stacked in the hut ready for next season. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIEHjjmmu54oJo7pY8RFGyQ3jnowthwwLTAVbcTTTjxV51G47ZKnoPvPWPanj9n0NOoWtZFZ7Ly5bM3TUOf6CnByRS9Ewxt0TxjvjqhlK9L82fRzj6Yn5f6XKFnxUZW0hx4FO6JNpRsDC/s1600/hoehlmbdldfagifa-724760.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334577425646498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIEHjjmmu54oJo7pY8RFGyQ3jnowthwwLTAVbcTTTjxV51G47ZKnoPvPWPanj9n0NOoWtZFZ7Ly5bM3TUOf6CnByRS9Ewxt0TxjvjqhlK9L82fRzj6Yn5f6XKFnxUZW0hx4FO6JNpRsDC/s320/hoehlmbdldfagifa-724760.jpg" /></a><br />
The weather has improved slightly in recent weeks, becoming colder and clearer. One evening we even had a sort-of sunset... <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq7Kc9sHO1bLQX8JYv-Ah8vrVNKn9vN_ejx3j2YUSVPqBZex6j1xEPwvqWj58OZKXrYJTlUexPnHwiuMxfcP_fpySMl7a4jBFhEtbyDEaduPYCgkeds0aqNPKS4Ng9f_IHVgTnsDQjDTX/s1600/cflakiclbhfjjnbk-725674.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334582160941362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq7Kc9sHO1bLQX8JYv-Ah8vrVNKn9vN_ejx3j2YUSVPqBZex6j1xEPwvqWj58OZKXrYJTlUexPnHwiuMxfcP_fpySMl7a4jBFhEtbyDEaduPYCgkeds0aqNPKS4Ng9f_IHVgTnsDQjDTX/s320/cflakiclbhfjjnbk-725674.jpg" /></a><br />
... followed by a dark night with millions of stars. This is only the second night I've seen stars this year, due to a combination of it being summer and therefore light, and then being largely overcast. It now gets dark quite early, giving us more opportunities to see the stars.<br />
<br />
With very little snow left after a mild season, some areas of Signy look nothing like the Antarctic! Some of the thawed lakes look particularly nice, with the water a deep greeny blue colour from the glacial sediments that drain into them. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDERKQETn5utgehF6vGUK4fDUwKCGVOHAHWKJoi_BZ_dZYYwJeKGuVaqaW1xfLwfrUWWwr-MCBofF3PUWF9oVQPelE-do3GzRKzRttEdrTkMKcybasKJC_skQfU79uUbE3LcpceNHzAqC/s1600/bbomjohobfaoonik-726540.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334579808764370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDERKQETn5utgehF6vGUK4fDUwKCGVOHAHWKJoi_BZ_dZYYwJeKGuVaqaW1xfLwfrUWWwr-MCBofF3PUWF9oVQPelE-do3GzRKzRttEdrTkMKcybasKJC_skQfU79uUbE3LcpceNHzAqC/s320/bbomjohobfaoonik-726540.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwZNOVT3wraJkdf6SU0Ir7QLtHpRiVBIX7SQnNppqs9rCM6WPGAjn4b_9HQ3SQuvb0cjNPfm685CeECDhk_SXiEaFFyst0aYz4NhZFs9AkVDwJfKxpRTlf8cDL6rzp8i8yWq7ID69MPWe/s1600/eaipkhpehfcndohj-727531.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6534334586231221698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwZNOVT3wraJkdf6SU0Ir7QLtHpRiVBIX7SQnNppqs9rCM6WPGAjn4b_9HQ3SQuvb0cjNPfm685CeECDhk_SXiEaFFyst0aYz4NhZFs9AkVDwJfKxpRTlf8cDL6rzp8i8yWq7ID69MPWe/s320/eaipkhpehfcndohj-727531.jpg" /></a><br />
With 10 days to go now before the ship comes to pick us up, we turn to packing cargo and samples and starting to close down the station for the winter. Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-6077281396262941742018-03-09T11:48:00.000+00:002018-03-09T12:01:55.918+00:00Counting<p>A lot of my job involves counting and monitoring a variety of wildlife. The counting part of this has been particularly noticeable over the last couple of weeks. <br> </p> <p>First job was the whole island seal census. This involved all personnel on station, and took two full days. Every seal on the island, of every species, was counted. Some areas have a lot of seals and many of the fur seals look remarkably rock-like! <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOqof8tzLNJRgwBBC4yfRT2mbbp_u6cK2dgSA7DrT7k-DHJRSxqRW19dRtRcsa4NXiC1SxSk-R1uzFIcqOTigL-4nGEUOU-ZYmNYKbDI7rPdG-Zh6K51ZY-2PuR21BziJ3cJEw7R40_Ge/s1600/npbbhheobikgnheo-715951.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOqof8tzLNJRgwBBC4yfRT2mbbp_u6cK2dgSA7DrT7k-DHJRSxqRW19dRtRcsa4NXiC1SxSk-R1uzFIcqOTigL-4nGEUOU-ZYmNYKbDI7rPdG-Zh6K51ZY-2PuR21BziJ3cJEw7R40_Ge/s320/npbbhheobikgnheo-715951.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914025358255954" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqHWeNMpIW5pIYCzN4nX8PKo8GPCU_4jv1Frc5PukvnerITBoJyposKd3QjfOhFiHZ-tkljrb0K_5oudGKdZDJQwRoxIU1xf-snQYN3Gqgv4KfuTUK8srYgdOcBJgaDjlX2lOmzlpAf2b/s1600/niiinddkoimjolhe-717408.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqHWeNMpIW5pIYCzN4nX8PKo8GPCU_4jv1Frc5PukvnerITBoJyposKd3QjfOhFiHZ-tkljrb0K_5oudGKdZDJQwRoxIU1xf-snQYN3Gqgv4KfuTUK8srYgdOcBJgaDjlX2lOmzlpAf2b/s320/niiinddkoimjolhe-717408.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914032678930002" /></a></p> <p>The beaches and low lying areas are particularly popular with the fur seals and elephant seals.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP9lNaWqMLSSJTYoqJZQ7HfSbWJlsGl9Qmz9BgisPB14XUm1Ky8OgxRNfL61otlJhRbfE2Fy629qdwxrjj45Mz3MsWkNpMUo075j9R4X-JM9T5LFMln7k8ebFZ3I_9pb1QzmQrY4Fi2TO/s1600/oebafamhchnbahmi-718314.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP9lNaWqMLSSJTYoqJZQ7HfSbWJlsGl9Qmz9BgisPB14XUm1Ky8OgxRNfL61otlJhRbfE2Fy629qdwxrjj45Mz3MsWkNpMUo075j9R4X-JM9T5LFMln7k8ebFZ3I_9pb1QzmQrY4Fi2TO/s320/oebafamhchnbahmi-718314.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914036261386146" /></a></p> <p>While the ice flows are much more popular with seals such as this leopard seal and weddell seals.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDGFO56dpr8paJeDsMBRAYftiPHsg0xevqcb8U4j9HCL5fcP87d84IChBcpOPTqew5jj5ngQcQw9XeIlo7FCZGw22gOaVkpSyaiC9AoQGk3wtB3PhnpYkSCk25IubKWSXXJH6Yzh88GYI/s1600/bhjmonaljmhmiidl-719343.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDGFO56dpr8paJeDsMBRAYftiPHsg0xevqcb8U4j9HCL5fcP87d84IChBcpOPTqew5jj5ngQcQw9XeIlo7FCZGw22gOaVkpSyaiC9AoQGk3wtB3PhnpYkSCk25IubKWSXXJH6Yzh88GYI/s320/bhjmonaljmhmiidl-719343.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914040295185314" /></a></p> <p>The seals have been counted almost every year, at the same time of year since 1977, allowing us to see the long term trends in their numbers. We got to just over 9000 seals in total this year. <br> </p> <p>Whilst out counting I came across this south polar skua. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz5rKlam-uJljNw8Hky0F8EDkosIO5wmewHUfkRskEzYQq-xfu95Te9FgaKU6lIJtggqDD3qcoRwpuhWtPTSWV-Uf-p2BV2i8UjgrPgc6wMOJXyXhVl4k8rfMvp_02B4UwSollmqyD1hN/s1600/bcpjckbalpkhlldf-720249.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz5rKlam-uJljNw8Hky0F8EDkosIO5wmewHUfkRskEzYQq-xfu95Te9FgaKU6lIJtggqDD3qcoRwpuhWtPTSWV-Uf-p2BV2i8UjgrPgc6wMOJXyXhVl4k8rfMvp_02B4UwSollmqyD1hN/s320/bcpjckbalpkhlldf-720249.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914044904441986" /></a></p> <p>Only a few of these nest on the island here. Most of the skuas here are the larger and darker, Brown skua. This picture shows both for comparison.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOn-BiGX6xe5wRQOD78Z_i3-ZqIWEQkQw7nbHw48bGsWDH4OnmUPXMRw6BnAaIEE8Jf-LkqPvwxD6H32kdwlKbKuz7QCpFu7MO3F6eVsVOqhyphenhyphen0rIFSBsgsojiZwFgN4r4sT9kkTSCFP_t2/s1600/nplhpcobipacngdg-721143.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOn-BiGX6xe5wRQOD78Z_i3-ZqIWEQkQw7nbHw48bGsWDH4OnmUPXMRw6BnAaIEE8Jf-LkqPvwxD6H32kdwlKbKuz7QCpFu7MO3F6eVsVOqhyphenhyphen0rIFSBsgsojiZwFgN4r4sT9kkTSCFP_t2/s320/nplhpcobipacngdg-721143.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914051135940770" /></a></p> <p>We have had a mild and rainy season here this year. When the sun finally decided to shine, everything on the lower slopes looked very green and un-Antarctic looking! This is a combination of green algae, mosses and lichen. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBihccmwvrK43inwOw5uqpXTl-GUeFjbohyqljoBqBsv-5w-ArL6xrVtYMnxVb9GAge2BCxOKXL9IJZHuE1VWnWrwBzea02Giq4nvqF2S9sjfnMMI9TXReTMtW5TbAhK7cGO4jjGH7EFt/s1600/jjoebfankgnikdba-722548.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBihccmwvrK43inwOw5uqpXTl-GUeFjbohyqljoBqBsv-5w-ArL6xrVtYMnxVb9GAge2BCxOKXL9IJZHuE1VWnWrwBzea02Giq4nvqF2S9sjfnMMI9TXReTMtW5TbAhK7cGO4jjGH7EFt/s320/jjoebfankgnikdba-722548.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914057827487842" /></a></p> <p>I have been feeling rather envious of all of the lovely snowy pictures people have been sending me from home while I have been out in the rain. The lack of snow turns everything dirty coloured- our beautiful snowy icecap has turned from this...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_pHAjuYTEt8jP9hb9DDSZcDsbJMncHGoSDn8x7ycTlYBXwvpt3VenjUh7ZdhonqKOga-hO2hlrNpZ9hRUIPC2moa_GdJRuyQeDD4GSkDE3zbW37sxw8zGa9xXjCltI5IABQbIM6Nh6Ne/s1600/cplgigonaiacogam-723598.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_pHAjuYTEt8jP9hb9DDSZcDsbJMncHGoSDn8x7ycTlYBXwvpt3VenjUh7ZdhonqKOga-hO2hlrNpZ9hRUIPC2moa_GdJRuyQeDD4GSkDE3zbW37sxw8zGa9xXjCltI5IABQbIM6Nh6Ne/s320/cplgigonaiacogam-723598.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914061689681538" /></a></p> <p>Into this... <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-v4xjwctjOfP6GcBl0Q5ZwabiQjPvNvij0pi5DsvKjjRepzVWXAe0Po2dlDdQRXwq-djRHmnBiyekFGuZjgwBEeqEx3RehCkf6w63t58SB2JEyD4TklFkXVk7SsSR18Pn304BmfJjP-Pk/s1600/infpodeplhcgjmhf-724818.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-v4xjwctjOfP6GcBl0Q5ZwabiQjPvNvij0pi5DsvKjjRepzVWXAe0Po2dlDdQRXwq-djRHmnBiyekFGuZjgwBEeqEx3RehCkf6w63t58SB2JEyD4TklFkXVk7SsSR18Pn304BmfJjP-Pk/s320/infpodeplhcgjmhf-724818.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914065588430626" /></a></p> <p>The snow algae which develops on the surface can be green or red. The red algae can get very red!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpNt6QtoRbzT1rWYSDJz03C6oQMu8rjJzbAF_4kjtIXzfeYhIHwCJ7GI9PzNpWvsfjbRVUy8ux1KlktQLDVLH5V6kjZC0DyC0Hs6lbsFie3AKVs74USkKY_7gKaev5mOwY-tdpPqVrhqv/s1600/jnneoeeckeigfkdk-725720.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpNt6QtoRbzT1rWYSDJz03C6oQMu8rjJzbAF_4kjtIXzfeYhIHwCJ7GI9PzNpWvsfjbRVUy8ux1KlktQLDVLH5V6kjZC0DyC0Hs6lbsFie3AKVs74USkKY_7gKaev5mOwY-tdpPqVrhqv/s320/jnneoeeckeigfkdk-725720.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914069543692434" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzPSV35P9AUNghZjDCxhKC_JvW7wng5OwLP4Nf1biTDmKRUMQ4HLlTN8ToYB5-3KQvM4LXzn7XhlRLs3R6QR-y2Jsxw6FBh0xUaWPy85Fg50kAoDITazBOL9OlywkXVZJYf-D-bXiw4mh/s1600/bmdcjoipgibaiaip-726478.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzPSV35P9AUNghZjDCxhKC_JvW7wng5OwLP4Nf1biTDmKRUMQ4HLlTN8ToYB5-3KQvM4LXzn7XhlRLs3R6QR-y2Jsxw6FBh0xUaWPy85Fg50kAoDITazBOL9OlywkXVZJYf-D-bXiw4mh/s320/bmdcjoipgibaiaip-726478.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914071611315442" /></a></p> <p>With winter approaching, the temperatures this week have finally started dropping, allowing us to have some snow.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaQIU45S_Pulc-Vv4ipft4IDx10bmY3QdWKQe4W6yiL8615J5qXNCHJytN-EaPZjStabKGnp5Bt-orXogtd5sTyNpaIHSVbN73EbjfhxDDyZWAabxwFMuK3TsIJqgyXqM1TR5Y8l2yOgJ/s1600/ildieejgbddlfffn-727895.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaQIU45S_Pulc-Vv4ipft4IDx10bmY3QdWKQe4W6yiL8615J5qXNCHJytN-EaPZjStabKGnp5Bt-orXogtd5sTyNpaIHSVbN73EbjfhxDDyZWAabxwFMuK3TsIJqgyXqM1TR5Y8l2yOgJ/s320/ildieejgbddlfffn-727895.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914078735499746" /></a></p> <p>It was such a refreshing change from the rain and transformed Signy back into being an Antarctic winter wonderland. The west coast, still with plenty of icebergs was looking particularly wintery.</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hpXVGu8G7yLR2T_r8W_qapmnwq8J9VgFYApeszziS6THgFfuA2Q-1dI92kmS5no3k9C0MzfflEux8cqYeLXes7wnsxUOhrISnMbFK1fz5il3jxrZrJcmRrf-k5ZQoiahpDupSBEs7cge/s1600/ofiagflbbndeddjl-728818.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hpXVGu8G7yLR2T_r8W_qapmnwq8J9VgFYApeszziS6THgFfuA2Q-1dI92kmS5no3k9C0MzfflEux8cqYeLXes7wnsxUOhrISnMbFK1fz5il3jxrZrJcmRrf-k5ZQoiahpDupSBEs7cge/s320/ofiagflbbndeddjl-728818.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914080607276930" /></a></p> <p>The second big count that needed to be done was the whole island giant petrel chick count. We had counted all of the nests earlier in the season, but need to know how many of these have survived. Giant petrel chicks are not blessed with good looks, but they have a lot of character and I am very fond of them.</p> <p>They come in a grey morph...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb91o2GNujf-vB_pege06h4CWOiL1n9pL8-1IgUMoM83xpiV4c5B-YdfHqwB_qOJmvUSHWLIykwfS8DeSwP4NqI8zYsq37eoLPOdbtb6TbjSOZrbIXBjzEnAt3LQzVdF6XlHRMARC9-Tko/s1600/dhphfimeedineeag-730159.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb91o2GNujf-vB_pege06h4CWOiL1n9pL8-1IgUMoM83xpiV4c5B-YdfHqwB_qOJmvUSHWLIykwfS8DeSwP4NqI8zYsq37eoLPOdbtb6TbjSOZrbIXBjzEnAt3LQzVdF6XlHRMARC9-Tko/s320/dhphfimeedineeag-730159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914092948249922" /></a></p> <p>Or a white morph...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNMI9qVRWqCn9gRhY4Iumh9Pj9hmr-uPraRj40krNCb4Glxq4r7NZkRxX047-xY-TGAO4eXa2B_iLdlUmk_ydn6ivlOlZDVTQ6M9Rv3_ftwNBxGC9WdwTou0mbNkwCChksSXJr1aET_A/s1600/kpfjioinahbeaipg-731293.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNMI9qVRWqCn9gRhY4Iumh9Pj9hmr-uPraRj40krNCb4Glxq4r7NZkRxX047-xY-TGAO4eXa2B_iLdlUmk_ydn6ivlOlZDVTQ6M9Rv3_ftwNBxGC9WdwTou0mbNkwCChksSXJr1aET_A/s320/kpfjioinahbeaipg-731293.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914089301076210" /></a></p> <p>Both are very well camouflaged on a snowy day and despite their large size, they were tricky to spot in the grey and white snowy landscape.</p> <p>Back on station, on a rainy sunday afternoon, we made penguin cookies...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pOb6fuM9py60E7emqkEu7cUtBeorOYp2MQCnpRauhXC0pZwmLvIBEo4Q9bcFAb3R1RorjpZSkCBqCYbsHxHVyQBNhEK67nc4ACAXnHMEt-BbLqM0IOZchW3cnRmIGZUqIGU58qho_EkN/s1600/fgmfiedhkafckone-732984.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pOb6fuM9py60E7emqkEu7cUtBeorOYp2MQCnpRauhXC0pZwmLvIBEo4Q9bcFAb3R1RorjpZSkCBqCYbsHxHVyQBNhEK67nc4ACAXnHMEt-BbLqM0IOZchW3cnRmIGZUqIGU58qho_EkN/s320/fgmfiedhkafckone-732984.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6530914099123735026" /></a></p> <p>We have only three weeks left here now til the end of the season. My fieldwork is winding down and my focus switches to packing boxes and samples, counting things and tidying up from the season. None of this is too arduous and it makes a change from being in the field almost every day. There are still plenty of reasons to get outside, and it is nice to pick and chose the nicer days instead of having to be out in whatever weather Signy decides to throw at us! <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-20210428536829005572018-02-22T10:57:00.000+00:002018-02-22T11:05:21.814+00:00Signy Webcam<p>We have had a webcam running at Signy this year, and had been hoping to get it connected to the BAS website for everyone to see. Unfortunately this is out of our hands, and has not yet happened so we have come up with an alternative from here. The images from the webcam can be found here: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/keqdquv3zqa3zmz/AABE0o_5tCJXq3ZJbBNskgS6a?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/keqdquv3zqa3zmz/AABE0o_5tCJXq3ZJbBNskgS6a?dl=0</a> There is a new image every 30 minutes. It is worth noting this links to a large number of images so can take a while to load up. The view is from the front of the station looking towards the generator shed and jetty. <br> </p> <p>After a lot more mild wet weather, we finally had a nice sunny day earlier in the week and managed a trip to the west coast to do some maintenance work on the hut there. There are some lovely icebergs grounded in the shallower waters along the west coast. The smaller bits are often used by leopard seals as places to haul out for a snooze.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor0fi54Es2Zg1QPx-DNC7GRBggrJnSs6x8s9m3WuXfTti61B0XsHxA-SwsnrLlHhmupv_nsXDZaOutMPWS9jFDeFsPaIevGzmWgvVM6VHCLzuR-OUfcS3zAvhGMJ_Rvku6JxJes18AQM4/s1600/gflhkhadlleblcid-721848.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor0fi54Es2Zg1QPx-DNC7GRBggrJnSs6x8s9m3WuXfTti61B0XsHxA-SwsnrLlHhmupv_nsXDZaOutMPWS9jFDeFsPaIevGzmWgvVM6VHCLzuR-OUfcS3zAvhGMJ_Rvku6JxJes18AQM4/s320/gflhkhadlleblcid-721848.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333173343995970" /></a></p> <p>All of the Adelie penguins have now gone. They will head south to the ice edge where the adults will moult and regrow a new set of feathers. The chinstrap chicks are enormous. The youngest look like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvfZ0o-ggBK42Bg_JRG06FQfj7r93OzvJ8Q7n5vcnl9UnCy_E9_WLAm44pnVPC2V8w1Mhpb6SxZIqOyLMmg1TVUf_Hs3hawKli0jGWL8rCiCkzQZ562Pc8Dh5fj-aZ43H2W9EzvND9XTi/s1600/cpopankofjdljaoc-723874.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvfZ0o-ggBK42Bg_JRG06FQfj7r93OzvJ8Q7n5vcnl9UnCy_E9_WLAm44pnVPC2V8w1Mhpb6SxZIqOyLMmg1TVUf_Hs3hawKli0jGWL8rCiCkzQZ562Pc8Dh5fj-aZ43H2W9EzvND9XTi/s320/cpopankofjdljaoc-723874.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333178500142642" /></a></p> <p>Those that are a bit older look like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehNozTzjt53_Su0wnJcpeFDZpa1PSDwmThFj8uaCULJZMUui4u92nf3ekSybhPWO33bjtvg3prx7glZiG5SwuEWxrOPKisDmffifzi6hTv-0awUG72PVjF7E5n4uKWWxDGJKVSRK74zkR/s1600/mnolhdmojplhpgcd-724688.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehNozTzjt53_Su0wnJcpeFDZpa1PSDwmThFj8uaCULJZMUui4u92nf3ekSybhPWO33bjtvg3prx7glZiG5SwuEWxrOPKisDmffifzi6hTv-0awUG72PVjF7E5n4uKWWxDGJKVSRK74zkR/s320/mnolhdmojplhpgcd-724688.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333185649826418" /></a></p> <p>And the ones that are only a week or so from fledging look like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJRG7C4FHKq0ksPanNerUNlJARV12mrP37AGPyu1vwAFQomJUpl6uZuUC1kVcxAeEwX3ZlC36EaefLNGmamDx59LnIkVqZf_oarjBNH4-KkbUrQkZDF604u5TSULi3w-KRHybXUN1a-93/s1600/fjiilkplfaodiilh-725752.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJRG7C4FHKq0ksPanNerUNlJARV12mrP37AGPyu1vwAFQomJUpl6uZuUC1kVcxAeEwX3ZlC36EaefLNGmamDx59LnIkVqZf_oarjBNH4-KkbUrQkZDF604u5TSULi3w-KRHybXUN1a-93/s320/fjiilkplfaodiilh-725752.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333189029171538" /></a></p> <p>One day this Macaroni penguin showed up. In the past, a few of these have been known to breed at Signy, but I have never seen any breeding in my time here. However, a few are seen each year, looking for a nesting site or a mate. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBVFgnCIVSDTvor3Q3eL-IE93eDenm7SzMef7LEzmYpOgIUPB8rByOC6zrv8Y6DzBQsp5VvNpb2zQFKnwQSwvgTPIaTiAItqRM-zGAz1JJw66EAA5iDsb0ifhkQ05pEfBoGy1LpVkNy9i/s1600/flaaagdapancamhg-726718.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBVFgnCIVSDTvor3Q3eL-IE93eDenm7SzMef7LEzmYpOgIUPB8rByOC6zrv8Y6DzBQsp5VvNpb2zQFKnwQSwvgTPIaTiAItqRM-zGAz1JJw66EAA5iDsb0ifhkQ05pEfBoGy1LpVkNy9i/s320/flaaagdapancamhg-726718.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333194713320434" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgjgTBjI14Rb75tslxWrOJo8iRxEPr4HNuyNcnld5cHESA6aDZkRrUczJB6qGwQo0Y_kES9Oe3AxgXZnZMKtcFWTsPLW7IRJfVW__nOcktRrZp4xZ3mT-loDJOvK9E-KyRfmYSVxsn0fw/s1600/paaanlpdbgafoeaf-727532.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgjgTBjI14Rb75tslxWrOJo8iRxEPr4HNuyNcnld5cHESA6aDZkRrUczJB6qGwQo0Y_kES9Oe3AxgXZnZMKtcFWTsPLW7IRJfVW__nOcktRrZp4xZ3mT-loDJOvK9E-KyRfmYSVxsn0fw/s320/paaanlpdbgafoeaf-727532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6525333195802023042" /></a></p> <p> The last few days I've noticed it is starting to get dark much earlier here now, and its still not fully light at 6am any longer. Although this means winter is on its way here, it also means the opposite must be happening in the UK and it will therefore be spring when I get home in a couple of months.</p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-54816389342044942662018-02-05T17:59:00.000+00:002018-02-05T18:11:43.066+00:00Out into the Big Wide World<p>Firstly, BAS has developed a new virtual tour of Signy research station, which can be found on the BAS website at: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/virtual-antarctica/virtual-antarctica-signy-demo-vr360/">https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/virtual-antarctica/virtual-antarctica-signy-demo-vr360/</a> The pictures for this were taken the day we arrived so there is a lot of cargo in the wrong places, but it does give the general idea of how things are. I think it is likely to be quite good, as long as you have faster internet than we do here! Enjoy! </p> <p>The end of January sees my Adelie chicks starting to fledge. The adults leave too so in the space of about 10 days, the colonies go from being full of birds to strangely silent. Here is the big colony at Gourlay at the start of the week: <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1GFs4YKL1KeD9TWefAZqZyYxuCrYkqatnPASA_xItTpiToI6AqSP31B9IOp7p9DQm7-3xRXd7dfqsiVk_iZbAU-Q4qvHWNet4D4BrHb1PQbohdMuFtTtCEGYO4fKp8e5L_1_rv9B7nPo/s1600/jgglnindcihgmohm-703099.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1GFs4YKL1KeD9TWefAZqZyYxuCrYkqatnPASA_xItTpiToI6AqSP31B9IOp7p9DQm7-3xRXd7dfqsiVk_iZbAU-Q4qvHWNet4D4BrHb1PQbohdMuFtTtCEGYO4fKp8e5L_1_rv9B7nPo/s320/jgglnindcihgmohm-703099.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134596495039650" /></a></p> <p>At this stage the Adelie chicks are fully feathered and have lost nearly all of their fluffy down (in this picture you can also see the younger chinstrap chicks behind): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBRWl0I0hHvz8Z95AjxU6sWMY22Lp4qz9chiSH6I3Y5uCT90_xVoCFVeKU1DtqNARn-Chm0J8mfU6ZGSYf3masVtKolOqeLlrTmeW7YWI6dSJdNOx1E7Z9P4x7VGg9daG8ZCahEJJlLxS/s1600/fengmcpkbfeompmb-705206.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBRWl0I0hHvz8Z95AjxU6sWMY22Lp4qz9chiSH6I3Y5uCT90_xVoCFVeKU1DtqNARn-Chm0J8mfU6ZGSYf3masVtKolOqeLlrTmeW7YWI6dSJdNOx1E7Z9P4x7VGg9daG8ZCahEJJlLxS/s320/fengmcpkbfeompmb-705206.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134602099827890" /></a></p> <p>This chick looks fat and healthy and probably weighs only slight less than its parent. This is probably its final meal from its parents before heading out into the big wide world alone. It will hopefully return to Signy to breed in a few years time. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0hNcBEeMbJgwRDJkh_OE7CuDVnaRZUu4__tRYlAVpJRvXxVfGKQA9tswWN7KWrtkxnewqpZew5Y7JxR1hmI2p0S3G75eBhW-0wFqd1bVKnY5M2jTcv1njKQ-xBGvxyHrYRszmxfM_-P0/s1600/hedacfmmibjnklah-706377.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0hNcBEeMbJgwRDJkh_OE7CuDVnaRZUu4__tRYlAVpJRvXxVfGKQA9tswWN7KWrtkxnewqpZew5Y7JxR1hmI2p0S3G75eBhW-0wFqd1bVKnY5M2jTcv1njKQ-xBGvxyHrYRszmxfM_-P0/s320/hedacfmmibjnklah-706377.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134612259732242" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1WEnCILZIy0lD9nRVDTbMM0VEOvYC3qHocmNhi3lvg86g8z8iayunJhnoP5fdJBeM39LqwGjPXS4lLGvz1x2C5nGaAaFUZbmHbk_PvVGOnQIFYhEq8APVYLQafovKIWeJRjw1to_g8Dz/s1600/mbckpngbeffmopbf-707768.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1WEnCILZIy0lD9nRVDTbMM0VEOvYC3qHocmNhi3lvg86g8z8iayunJhnoP5fdJBeM39LqwGjPXS4lLGvz1x2C5nGaAaFUZbmHbk_PvVGOnQIFYhEq8APVYLQafovKIWeJRjw1to_g8Dz/s320/mbckpngbeffmopbf-707768.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134614828027522" /></a></p> <p>It always amazes me that the chicks somehow know the time is right to leave behind the safety of the shore and leap into the sea and swim away. It only takes them a couple of seconds of bobbing and splashing on the surface like ducks before they realise they can dive under and vanish completely. This is the last we see of them. It is critical that they get this bit right as leopard seals and giant petrels cruise the shoreline, picking off any weaklings.<br> </p> <p>By the end of the week, the colony in the picture at the start of this blog was almost empty. The birds around the edges are largely chinstraps, with just a couple of tiny clusters of adelie chicks remaining. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEabHvpMWlvkpxCQlKjq3NHl3pI3A3l6El4nsoAa1YM8m8MlxfeV7hXy6nFn94P1G4YxQVyJeMnwDuD2PJOi57NJkiX1afpdaRj9eZSh5_gD5FoJO3g-rd-uyij-8ZgYJbEEc5U77C0ke/s1600/nmhhepfbkppfhalk-728833.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEabHvpMWlvkpxCQlKjq3NHl3pI3A3l6El4nsoAa1YM8m8MlxfeV7hXy6nFn94P1G4YxQVyJeMnwDuD2PJOi57NJkiX1afpdaRj9eZSh5_gD5FoJO3g-rd-uyij-8ZgYJbEEc5U77C0ke/s320/nmhhepfbkppfhalk-728833.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134706901268498" /></a></p> <p>My study colony has only 2 birds left in it, and the colony is now an empty space littered with numbered nest marker bricks. All of the neat little nests of stones have turned into one big dirty mess. One of my jobs in the coming weeks will be to clean the bricks up for next year, but I think I'll let the rain do a bit of the work for me first.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW2J1WJr-CKDUeOgILMySf4D3vzqWZEfQKR64IKxCy4VffcDkOvsXILi-g9W3IR6B1_0Nli_exQq2_cNvtUjFb8vmAj6BHbiH75AJxW_4bI9uY-atcBskDznSNVgvbjWtFCk4BEizUa0y/s1600/pmlboljdjedglbhb-730043.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW2J1WJr-CKDUeOgILMySf4D3vzqWZEfQKR64IKxCy4VffcDkOvsXILi-g9W3IR6B1_0Nli_exQq2_cNvtUjFb8vmAj6BHbiH75AJxW_4bI9uY-atcBskDznSNVgvbjWtFCk4BEizUa0y/s320/pmlboljdjedglbhb-730043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134710097732498" /></a></p> <p>Meanwhile the chinstraps will be with us for a while yet. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcvOr3kr-Cz4t9wtVcdi21-tH9BWO2GswUXp4yJxETToiAaEocfOdW1vYTYRFY71NRb5tji5C6vXs-8mLlR2gJ185BihHQPNKnsJO5MPbnbBJOKgUcxalIBDXUsAvsLT4EbLsUWC34ogT/s1600/glchkinelhfmbioc-731506.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcvOr3kr-Cz4t9wtVcdi21-tH9BWO2GswUXp4yJxETToiAaEocfOdW1vYTYRFY71NRb5tji5C6vXs-8mLlR2gJ185BihHQPNKnsJO5MPbnbBJOKgUcxalIBDXUsAvsLT4EbLsUWC34ogT/s320/glchkinelhfmbioc-731506.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6519134717822751858" /></a></p> <p>The smallest of these are still very cute. But the majority are much bigger than this now. They have about a month to go before they too will head for the sea.<br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-21465898707918292462018-01-24T09:48:00.000+00:002018-01-24T13:40:54.181+00:00Late JanuaryBy late January, everything is moving on. We are past mid season which is a milestone mentally as it becomes necessary to start thinking about plans for once the season is over and writing job applications- until this point it is so far ahead that not much can be planned. At Signy there is still a lot to do. The weather has been pretty dismal in the last couple of weeks, with warm temperatures giving us several days of heavy rain, and frequent fog. This hasn't been great for pictures so apologies that most of these are not very bright!<br />
Last week we visited the gentoo penguins up at the North end of the island to count all of the chicks. The chicks are getting quite big. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rogml_AP0mDcF6J4K0SwjuTTfg5KhSfrxTM6SGfcEOzyJ9n1ffBjmxLFL50dF0c2k3YdM74VQ4Hk2CVtmomMcPKnBWxFI4g05X5PzaPvz1F54q0df_VgbRPqoUlirkOwFgEsVMckQ6MC/s1600/kjbmobnimckkfioc-730192.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585912208020610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rogml_AP0mDcF6J4K0SwjuTTfg5KhSfrxTM6SGfcEOzyJ9n1ffBjmxLFL50dF0c2k3YdM74VQ4Hk2CVtmomMcPKnBWxFI4g05X5PzaPvz1F54q0df_VgbRPqoUlirkOwFgEsVMckQ6MC/s320/kjbmobnimckkfioc-730192.jpg" /></a><br />
The gentoo chicks are lovely. Unlike the Adelies, they seem to have the sense to move out of their guano-covered colonies as soon as they are big enough, so they manage to remain clean and tidy. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK55fWChF-ufbd5L3B7oFlDnT79LEczAyompbmUETKDdQ189222Ce-Hrg6crQz-aHNOXW1w9IWrqOHyiKsdo5Wws7BjYK4iLpqt1PrUrK8Ll1wjUmCRjtSVMP0ehhpF4kvlFPGl3AGuRm/s1600/lpjfebolddkjgdid-731906.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585919375877650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK55fWChF-ufbd5L3B7oFlDnT79LEczAyompbmUETKDdQ189222Ce-Hrg6crQz-aHNOXW1w9IWrqOHyiKsdo5Wws7BjYK4iLpqt1PrUrK8Ll1wjUmCRjtSVMP0ehhpF4kvlFPGl3AGuRm/s320/lpjfebolddkjgdid-731906.jpg" /></a><br />
The shag chicks at North point are also getting quite large. They are brown at present but will change colour when their feathers grow. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G9XeDnkVQw6jOA38h6DxsFGsPouul3hJQpVEuCVpnmCTB-6n5PBBG-Hw5ohzv8w_yNPt5cA0L-Siz5b8R0CoCfzUFQbdkmrVP0Z8CzoUnIvwkhdatLZEjtqdYLgste-sKJo6dFJO-Z7J/s1600/njnkpmlbfmodnkjp-733098.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585921232944194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G9XeDnkVQw6jOA38h6DxsFGsPouul3hJQpVEuCVpnmCTB-6n5PBBG-Hw5ohzv8w_yNPt5cA0L-Siz5b8R0CoCfzUFQbdkmrVP0Z8CzoUnIvwkhdatLZEjtqdYLgste-sKJo6dFJO-Z7J/s320/njnkpmlbfmodnkjp-733098.jpg" /></a><br />
The chinstrap chicks are also growing well.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGqgoyairYeqJt9I1Soky6PHLvb3WSdfjvmR1YxQ3LPH8X4dI8zMxS9gdTse9z_UvnjHTw98p9-5WzEUh_otAXW0cHBGm8GNg2O64oMzGaKVIeYjwq6MWgrvFQTkWwEeHrpppL0ZwxPUF/s1600/ibmddlmeelfjaeop-734093.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585927388211570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGqgoyairYeqJt9I1Soky6PHLvb3WSdfjvmR1YxQ3LPH8X4dI8zMxS9gdTse9z_UvnjHTw98p9-5WzEUh_otAXW0cHBGm8GNg2O64oMzGaKVIeYjwq6MWgrvFQTkWwEeHrpppL0ZwxPUF/s320/ibmddlmeelfjaeop-734093.jpg" /></a><br />
On Friday the RRS Ernest Shackleton came to visit. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA3erZmXyr_WpR7JEbDVgkpHHBQL57txpyrtlpkzKVMpmcXPXYLlf2ODje28VS3TcB2vOGD6_WkxgRmE4PG2uWsiH_rrvy0NhGVViqebwZo6wbTPAcKkqq36DK4RrQt0d141XS4i4dFT6/s1600/khknlhflnngokbef-735783.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585935127971506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA3erZmXyr_WpR7JEbDVgkpHHBQL57txpyrtlpkzKVMpmcXPXYLlf2ODje28VS3TcB2vOGD6_WkxgRmE4PG2uWsiH_rrvy0NhGVViqebwZo6wbTPAcKkqq36DK4RrQt0d141XS4i4dFT6/s320/khknlhflnngokbef-735783.jpg" /></a><br />
It came to take away two of our scientists, Alex and JB, who have been with us since just before Christmas. Alex has been working with me, flying a drone to conduct a whole island aerial surveys of chinstrap penguins. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk_KIUrZbUmo2dcZdqVjRbob7kK7q7KV83AjMh7HGYEWL19M55FLviUGk9MOLrQYVHceduY9aCMR9-k4TKdnjfT9E73NrYp-jSE1fZr8VzUnkNPJhbGDGP6dAJp7kRrUf2FBidvrKhjn0/s1600/ckoimbidbikecjbb-736610.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585940444508162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk_KIUrZbUmo2dcZdqVjRbob7kK7q7KV83AjMh7HGYEWL19M55FLviUGk9MOLrQYVHceduY9aCMR9-k4TKdnjfT9E73NrYp-jSE1fZr8VzUnkNPJhbGDGP6dAJp7kRrUf2FBidvrKhjn0/s320/ckoimbidbikecjbb-736610.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCMGqKvTqEmviHtHCS4aEDxDn3WH-sRYFxBL19_nExQh0UIbInbmsCTHVPq4C_k1SB5RDcG1AnzUBSlC1tTYLzUnB8hu-KDlbzcMv75BzL4zTmq6fqTEGQN28tesIOfbKAex-g0ehif4L/s1600/obegejpdkifeghah-737597.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585945355952370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCMGqKvTqEmviHtHCS4aEDxDn3WH-sRYFxBL19_nExQh0UIbInbmsCTHVPq4C_k1SB5RDcG1AnzUBSlC1tTYLzUnB8hu-KDlbzcMv75BzL4zTmq6fqTEGQN28tesIOfbKAex-g0ehif4L/s320/obegejpdkifeghah-737597.jpg" /></a><br />
At this time of year the Antarctic fur seals turn up in large numbers. They are usually sub-adult males who are not big enough to hold territories on the breeding beaches of South Georgia.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJtT7q7Y6R51yNhvWEkSg0ALl5mJJJkQtdsff0cGbSlI5JrFY8LMt_0bnS50Pz66NrgNwzL6uZkihyRRsoTd2zcoYyD7LMZtGa8B3YFtHvpcoo_5y5PxDrabVZinH1Y87tQts5Niv60HJ/s1600/piohkbmjeeoajfle-738831.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585949246752562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJtT7q7Y6R51yNhvWEkSg0ALl5mJJJkQtdsff0cGbSlI5JrFY8LMt_0bnS50Pz66NrgNwzL6uZkihyRRsoTd2zcoYyD7LMZtGa8B3YFtHvpcoo_5y5PxDrabVZinH1Y87tQts5Niv60HJ/s320/piohkbmjeeoajfle-738831.jpg" /></a><br />
This one was special. It has a red flipper tag, and the number on it tells us that it was tagged as a pup on Bird Island in the 2012/13 season! What are the chances of him turning up on Signy in a place where I could spot his tags! <br /> <br />
There are some strange creatures in the Antarctic waters. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQtbFEOjk7qLgFBVyobgWGUZ0gWTlNo1dwCkauf4hCLDNp-dfuTteyMuEm7ejUbvDpBUVfDWfsT8_lWv1Df1YTg5PbTGnbeHBTzKnGP6cRNst-26S7nhDO6PmmEwC90dC2mpe9cjW828o/s1600/kjcdmjlcenclgngg-739891.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6514585954471226674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQtbFEOjk7qLgFBVyobgWGUZ0gWTlNo1dwCkauf4hCLDNp-dfuTteyMuEm7ejUbvDpBUVfDWfsT8_lWv1Df1YTg5PbTGnbeHBTzKnGP6cRNst-26S7nhDO6PmmEwC90dC2mpe9cjW828o/s320/kjcdmjlcenclgngg-739891.jpg" /></a><br />
This crustacean (identified as the amphipod Paraceradocus) washed up on the beach one day and was brought in for a photograph before being released.<br /> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-8889553045028150132018-01-15T11:11:00.000+00:002018-01-15T11:37:15.511+00:00Time FliesSomehow it has already reached the middle of January without me noticing! Work is very busy which makes the time fly. Wednesday for us will be mid-season. Last night for the first time we commented that it was starting to get dark at 10:30pm- it was the first time I've noticed that the nights are starting to draw in a bit, although we are almost a month past the longest day now so it is not suprising. Hopefully that means you've started to notice the days getting a tiny bit longer in the UK! <br /> <br />
Over the weeks the Adelie penguins have been very busy feeding their ever growing chicks. When the chicks get large enough to be left alone, both parents spend their days at sea fishing. The chicks which now look like big balls of fluff, form creches, huddling together for warmth and protection.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR1jUJRtnxhTXb-LzN4QmK9A2Fj1aPWtef829Sonl02xf75fwgieHvTUchxtBjr1fmnk3O7ze313iiEqW61B5Qhr30Jil_sQJhYyUVSuXDhVSFbubOmuPm2nuonmK_00bYrI0BJsQsViu/s1600/mbjcebafpjgaalbb-728797.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237119155501890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR1jUJRtnxhTXb-LzN4QmK9A2Fj1aPWtef829Sonl02xf75fwgieHvTUchxtBjr1fmnk3O7ze313iiEqW61B5Qhr30Jil_sQJhYyUVSuXDhVSFbubOmuPm2nuonmK_00bYrI0BJsQsViu/s320/mbjcebafpjgaalbb-728797.jpg" /></a><br />
On days when it is snowy or rainy the colonies are filthy from all the penguin guano and the chicks end up rather grubby!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2QTyqDmfzWF5OjBZnyy-t07B_RRSnng73YsBOb9qP2EfkcCpX4l_C1-6GvTvJgKCSDhUdXntGW5YibWgX81k15eM-HB-cPoqLJS_JezhitA6w7v70oZM4M-IOnMvCM989MI_HplzEIaF/s1600/hckeljhgeclpblkj-730182.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237125143432738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2QTyqDmfzWF5OjBZnyy-t07B_RRSnng73YsBOb9qP2EfkcCpX4l_C1-6GvTvJgKCSDhUdXntGW5YibWgX81k15eM-HB-cPoqLJS_JezhitA6w7v70oZM4M-IOnMvCM989MI_HplzEIaF/s320/hckeljhgeclpblkj-730182.jpg" /></a><br />
The chicks are very mobile and very comical, providing endless entertainment. <br /> <br />
A month behind the Adelies in their breeding cycle, the chinstraps have now just finished hatching. The chicks are still quite small and are being guarded by their parents. This one has two - on a cold day they bury their heads under their parents where it is warmest, and often just two bottoms can be seen! <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjcdtxdUoLoXj0A5I9Es4DBEyfLba8YWju_u5WjJupEBTLezCw8sSiJGOuCdNoru8-U-75pE6YmGXJ3ZchViQd1OF68golpD69Zm03DbqTBH1g3XIz4WosVjtl4RpueqZ-Ph0odFFf5cj/s1600/bpmdgigleknmbfdm-731055.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237128386439074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjcdtxdUoLoXj0A5I9Es4DBEyfLba8YWju_u5WjJupEBTLezCw8sSiJGOuCdNoru8-U-75pE6YmGXJ3ZchViQd1OF68golpD69Zm03DbqTBH1g3XIz4WosVjtl4RpueqZ-Ph0odFFf5cj/s320/bpmdgigleknmbfdm-731055.jpg" /></a><br />
These two penguins were investigating a Weddell seal sleeping on the rocks.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcq5t2Ca9JoYXE10S7EvjhrxqYoqxdLamY3vL1rc3RNJxLumb7PE6Ki7SNCkQT4UHmWXmhg5_80DcYRLe5iHSHG3yPSS5Ucdg-iM_fHJp7DhRDCR-rxWYcboNOJrR7lKGYcWTA_iXOitW/s1600/mhillkfidgpkpcll-732538.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237133514073522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcq5t2Ca9JoYXE10S7EvjhrxqYoqxdLamY3vL1rc3RNJxLumb7PE6Ki7SNCkQT4UHmWXmhg5_80DcYRLe5iHSHG3yPSS5Ucdg-iM_fHJp7DhRDCR-rxWYcboNOJrR7lKGYcWTA_iXOitW/s320/mhillkfidgpkpcll-732538.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFisw-pi4zcREAxukBpQU__BOgRc6i0eb3p27fT0HHRdiiRoAh1DZwfwCE4JC3ygo43CGJygtdYsuK6slZ4229qRcsw_uuCpAx8RNXfSzdMjSUJjNmvIsfpam603c0djCJbSHWupomJLm/s1600/iehcpdlkkcdpdcbf-733378.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237134734321058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFisw-pi4zcREAxukBpQU__BOgRc6i0eb3p27fT0HHRdiiRoAh1DZwfwCE4JC3ygo43CGJygtdYsuK6slZ4229qRcsw_uuCpAx8RNXfSzdMjSUJjNmvIsfpam603c0djCJbSHWupomJLm/s320/iehcpdlkkcdpdcbf-733378.jpg" /></a><br />
The skuas have chicks now too. Some of these are getting quite big - fed largely on a diet of eggs and baby penguins. Young skuas are very mobile and start exploring their surroundings as soon as they hatch. They are fiercely defended by their parents against anything that may harm them.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEOxIKv9LsOCs1uNzPDazKHU0zHqYQa7UdJpP6ahh4BTt8x6NxsTDgPZ4cYClLK5PWil8gSHkfRLi7bccqx9zbrfa4dj4DpBPUy_bCX6ll4ZyTpudGuDEAXOfFYo5KO2WcNllTRtlpCWj/s1600/aoknbpglnekcejlf-734333.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237142270595442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEOxIKv9LsOCs1uNzPDazKHU0zHqYQa7UdJpP6ahh4BTt8x6NxsTDgPZ4cYClLK5PWil8gSHkfRLi7bccqx9zbrfa4dj4DpBPUy_bCX6ll4ZyTpudGuDEAXOfFYo5KO2WcNllTRtlpCWj/s320/aoknbpglnekcejlf-734333.jpg" /></a><br />
And to finish, here are a couple of pretty ice formations that had formed over a semi frozen stream last week. <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUXkJclY__lnTOCMB3Pc-_wBstH2kMnPrbqcPRPogR69RiLlXExoHP5WvuHmq0pL2FiiuTYOFErgGb7SkocrMGEve-POuxd4tyGE_oHedWtxEWFeNAg4tM4xgAz8haqG2T_vNrVaoHdU2/s1600/oipkfieiengjpgak-735119.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237144322120258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUXkJclY__lnTOCMB3Pc-_wBstH2kMnPrbqcPRPogR69RiLlXExoHP5WvuHmq0pL2FiiuTYOFErgGb7SkocrMGEve-POuxd4tyGE_oHedWtxEWFeNAg4tM4xgAz8haqG2T_vNrVaoHdU2/s320/oipkfieiengjpgak-735119.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbih_c518ZMu32pbbM24VQ3Vg2xPouyZTHTkgvFzdR4BdUBY97TOKfbQUSPK82Zuq_kPShfG76fxcC3JVyX8I9CNqFtUoAKDxdoygxIAcSN8QQK3OE5S_x4TdyKJDgYkfoj6ijbQ649Yl/s1600/pbdlmbdcicajkill-736609.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6511237153287317090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbih_c518ZMu32pbbM24VQ3Vg2xPouyZTHTkgvFzdR4BdUBY97TOKfbQUSPK82Zuq_kPShfG76fxcC3JVyX8I9CNqFtUoAKDxdoygxIAcSN8QQK3OE5S_x4TdyKJDgYkfoj6ijbQ649Yl/s320/pbdlmbdcicajkill-736609.jpg" /></a>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-84139334648115982262018-01-07T19:50:00.000+00:002018-01-07T19:57:45.457+00:00Happy New Year<p>Happy New Year to everyone back at home.</p> <p>We had a white Christmas, but the sun shone too making it a very pleasant day. We all enjoyed a good Christmas dinner.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREjDkW_PogVHvqnfKuEuVvztjNpPEehdWas_Q3aeSalsurPaFSrewCW3TuRpFmjmkejFKaSlXUW8CwYPKjUYTqeMhwzcoHT1wzU_sbY_FtWfADzahvqxQ6Y6bKYJHAINbmKUl-VrusCE1/s1600/bjhdbaeomknlnkch-765489.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREjDkW_PogVHvqnfKuEuVvztjNpPEehdWas_Q3aeSalsurPaFSrewCW3TuRpFmjmkejFKaSlXUW8CwYPKjUYTqeMhwzcoHT1wzU_sbY_FtWfADzahvqxQ6Y6bKYJHAINbmKUl-VrusCE1/s320/bjhdbaeomknlnkch-765489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400451133799458" /></a></p> <p>Some of us had a walk out to the bottom of the glacier in the sunshine.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccjnnEVl_J2engyIApzXR58nqHtggZ-eqYdh9EiQikto5fPUqud5ehTFWJ8NEN-emyu9_6gHM6oBgAWMVE1hkdanuNskqJVdur1hrqbWTdhjrtuH7VEWCBPcBfbRBoGgIbAfZyMSymNaa/s1600/njjmgnnjknkfdeog-766854.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccjnnEVl_J2engyIApzXR58nqHtggZ-eqYdh9EiQikto5fPUqud5ehTFWJ8NEN-emyu9_6gHM6oBgAWMVE1hkdanuNskqJVdur1hrqbWTdhjrtuH7VEWCBPcBfbRBoGgIbAfZyMSymNaa/s320/njjmgnnjknkfdeog-766854.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400456510852242" /></a></p> <p>Christmas involved some tasty treats including mince pies, trifle, and a large Christmas cake, made and iced by me, but then cleverly finished by Catrin who did an excellent job of making marzipan sculptures to go on the top.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo_B3a_6SsHTeeMFxjtl2qew6qdFHfg2J6svEZBCg2AGJoP1-sV-nfLUJx6F05K0E23CnRHBYMK9sIBfS8TwZoO-U8XZgtW64-_fw-06T_GQi6EgXxlUFr1x9rw0MTyRVB1bmCIsloObk/s1600/bdcldmieplhhfmgl-768148.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo_B3a_6SsHTeeMFxjtl2qew6qdFHfg2J6svEZBCg2AGJoP1-sV-nfLUJx6F05K0E23CnRHBYMK9sIBfS8TwZoO-U8XZgtW64-_fw-06T_GQi6EgXxlUFr1x9rw0MTyRVB1bmCIsloObk/s320/bdcldmieplhhfmgl-768148.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400462172101266" /></a></p> <p> Boxing Day some of us were back to work. The days are long at this time of year, and the weather can be stunning. The sun shone on our trip over the icecap to the west coast by skidoo. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn5uJcWdLKMufMhCFsDIlsgnjmptMepRv7NGLiA0vuN1WZWMVA8eYshdxUsfTMU5OLWkdhIChSEd_wsLnNrT12MYh1xvBU6xBd0gQBrs5wSMjdXLK4-fR0IKjvzgCxBl3yXLJryGQzujT/s1600/nankgdhjapbabijo-769455.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn5uJcWdLKMufMhCFsDIlsgnjmptMepRv7NGLiA0vuN1WZWMVA8eYshdxUsfTMU5OLWkdhIChSEd_wsLnNrT12MYh1xvBU6xBd0gQBrs5wSMjdXLK4-fR0IKjvzgCxBl3yXLJryGQzujT/s320/nankgdhjapbabijo-769455.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400470627638290" /></a></p> <p>Nothing is prettier than the view across to Coronation island on a bright day. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEwibE9FkbS0gq_uoUO2oooWuuh1OEHiYdtwNc5VFTkSjJqMMDJkM4br-In_1MZiS-3rwhiRkwP4hARXucB09X0fCq09u69rqGCH7y3ZU7XUFtQqC2zQk2ctTPVdWEky5g2yk2djvAV9O/s1600/plmnebljpfglipnk-770649.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEwibE9FkbS0gq_uoUO2oooWuuh1OEHiYdtwNc5VFTkSjJqMMDJkM4br-In_1MZiS-3rwhiRkwP4hARXucB09X0fCq09u69rqGCH7y3ZU7XUFtQqC2zQk2ctTPVdWEky5g2yk2djvAV9O/s320/plmnebljpfglipnk-770649.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400473643563746" /></a></p> <p>Some of the icebergs were looking particularly nice.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW10HXCu5Q6j2ghOUJhzBjJVMychoNlbUOXrrIkwPTTh6lWPmhARaPgh_5AWLBWTnImBoyu3A8I0FgBTo1tbnBPVkoaVtEhakYGYTEGLstj0gqFczg-7W2Cur8yn0kuKrLrh2BfxPKRgno/s1600/bppomafhkgccgekb-771552.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW10HXCu5Q6j2ghOUJhzBjJVMychoNlbUOXrrIkwPTTh6lWPmhARaPgh_5AWLBWTnImBoyu3A8I0FgBTo1tbnBPVkoaVtEhakYGYTEGLstj0gqFczg-7W2Cur8yn0kuKrLrh2BfxPKRgno/s320/bppomafhkgccgekb-771552.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400476742506082" /></a></p> <p>With temperatures just above zero and no wind, the green moss banks were snow free and it felt very summery!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kf-6HuHCFPXUFibkjhMn1MpHvdrRkMfXWfUY_zDXtSvlJc4e-qUQYD_d9IdbLsEDFybCbYklHbatZGNbGM3gyfSWldWWDwqWGCQchgQzsGOvWhl_7ys7ZKImmRJOS5ywnelrWprrp-AL/s1600/ddjbbdelbdjmhacj-773128.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kf-6HuHCFPXUFibkjhMn1MpHvdrRkMfXWfUY_zDXtSvlJc4e-qUQYD_d9IdbLsEDFybCbYklHbatZGNbGM3gyfSWldWWDwqWGCQchgQzsGOvWhl_7ys7ZKImmRJOS5ywnelrWprrp-AL/s320/ddjbbdelbdjmhacj-773128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400482000640450" /></a></p> <p>A content looking Weddell seal was also enjoying the sun.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMfBz8nmFhWLC0rEnTeEbVQRjxW9vOEDJU5ulrGCzlMxfmbYG0iCYKpLH-2IYBSPFUMOVwYwy_ezATBwC22ygFKri-_X4-54Go8cPvXBPvIoOflLoWW_LSpYIYBtHQDIgVM7Jifadkem7/s1600/jemdbbdbbajjohpe-773993.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMfBz8nmFhWLC0rEnTeEbVQRjxW9vOEDJU5ulrGCzlMxfmbYG0iCYKpLH-2IYBSPFUMOVwYwy_ezATBwC22ygFKri-_X4-54Go8cPvXBPvIoOflLoWW_LSpYIYBtHQDIgVM7Jifadkem7/s320/jemdbbdbbajjohpe-773993.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400485972762146" /></a></p> <p>Things can change rapidly- the next morning we awoke to winter again.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmOUfd0F0vQvt5jBgpykOVmlHZ9G7JWNzXHUzZaOAgQSunRrGt7GeuZ8EVvsv7Bulalu2h5dmpYZmNvto1lijOzxKbm9Q-5PIXFLzmaQ2dvzECJn2Iupqrdg-ychLIjHRt1asz3ka0ipu/s1600/cgiodohhdbnjjdhc-774907.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmOUfd0F0vQvt5jBgpykOVmlHZ9G7JWNzXHUzZaOAgQSunRrGt7GeuZ8EVvsv7Bulalu2h5dmpYZmNvto1lijOzxKbm9Q-5PIXFLzmaQ2dvzECJn2Iupqrdg-ychLIjHRt1asz3ka0ipu/s320/cgiodohhdbnjjdhc-774907.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508400491799412770" /></a></p> <p>The next couple of months are probably the busiest for me. The Adelie and gentoo chicks are getting big, so there are tasks like chick weighing and fledgling counts to be done. Meanwhile the chinstraps have started hatching and the fur seals, which also get counted, are starting to arrive. There is much to be done! <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-65745595258801160212017-12-25T11:49:00.000+00:002017-12-25T12:21:39.195+00:00Merry Christmas!<p>Merry Christmas to everyone at home! Some of you will have received this by email, but this is for those who's email address I don't have.</p> <p>Have a lovely day!<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxtAT7GnarttIK37tzFLCz2TIit4nLKXPyVJdDc0ogZRlJQJvsaSvYoyHT6EzX-Liu5T_tv02NyQeemgRJjXPrOSbyUw2QVOs54xEW2FTQ4A6WSqDFmd7iJPou_LWKIAAKW1XC-ssjwYL/s1600/fhmjnhnckanblhli-799261.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxtAT7GnarttIK37tzFLCz2TIit4nLKXPyVJdDc0ogZRlJQJvsaSvYoyHT6EzX-Liu5T_tv02NyQeemgRJjXPrOSbyUw2QVOs54xEW2FTQ4A6WSqDFmd7iJPou_LWKIAAKW1XC-ssjwYL/s320/fhmjnhnckanblhli-799261.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6503458802860201954" /></a></p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-19746269879399542552017-12-23T16:23:00.000+00:002017-12-23T16:44:25.224+00:00Midsummer<p>Firstly, seasons greetings from the Signy Team.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUQ5847m498r2ysREpOIBLDwozfcMI3T_bkynstDngCvQbZaLD0JUpNjhnZcub5E4dEwXk-7TB2f9DaH38TqUpiLQ7cNW-CjFWrTJC3CTnLLrMTd1YPzYKAYGfqLlRSuEWQlbjCJ9UvG7/s1600/behmadeedbfdoibn-765288.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUQ5847m498r2ysREpOIBLDwozfcMI3T_bkynstDngCvQbZaLD0JUpNjhnZcub5E4dEwXk-7TB2f9DaH38TqUpiLQ7cNW-CjFWrTJC3CTnLLrMTd1YPzYKAYGfqLlRSuEWQlbjCJ9UvG7/s320/behmadeedbfdoibn-765288.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784347781654642" /></a></p> <p>Secondly, Happy Midwinter to anyone in the northern hemisphere. After a gorgeus day of sunshine, lovely clouds and ice...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz1EDAdGg_N7ErgcKZXKPNtOa5Dv1udCWRb0baaIiz8ZOgLs-uv-fZNMU_XCX8M7bNrfEqsq9xFOpGjZmNQ4ZeS0D0gtdeWcW0AOWnBLnKN69qxKuNgNRIHhOTPoeIclrr2vH1X2cGuHs/s1600/ifncjjapemnganlm-766320.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz1EDAdGg_N7ErgcKZXKPNtOa5Dv1udCWRb0baaIiz8ZOgLs-uv-fZNMU_XCX8M7bNrfEqsq9xFOpGjZmNQ4ZeS0D0gtdeWcW0AOWnBLnKN69qxKuNgNRIHhOTPoeIclrr2vH1X2cGuHs/s320/ifncjjapemnganlm-766320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784353690658738" /></a></p> <p>...we were treated to a beautiful calm evening. This is how dark it was at midnight.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ35rxkK8-XtFDWwz1MvHtkHUtgXAvAWuWVfgmWDiWGqk2Tjfrq3bXawgW3PquOiB9oFMOpBnr8kp6yvxssnauPVvP2Apzn2fN5iJfxElMJ8S8YNStMbY1j2atURBhLI9rBYa0nFib3iH/s1600/amknoohgnbkehcfi-767332.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ35rxkK8-XtFDWwz1MvHtkHUtgXAvAWuWVfgmWDiWGqk2Tjfrq3bXawgW3PquOiB9oFMOpBnr8kp6yvxssnauPVvP2Apzn2fN5iJfxElMJ8S8YNStMbY1j2atURBhLI9rBYa0nFib3iH/s320/amknoohgnbkehcfi-767332.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784363303864770" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fq8c9CSes-Q2m4m5urbNObaUar9TpwM36w8nXt8r1a8EZGxjE6H4QxoNs6FCi_UG1E-BP5dFwMsu6bPLr6VCsy9ed0Q7fX5s-kU88rEfQrIVTEYSqRW7nm8b2c3SrLzHzW3AnGGpV1BW/s1600/hhoooecpjddggoaa-768311.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fq8c9CSes-Q2m4m5urbNObaUar9TpwM36w8nXt8r1a8EZGxjE6H4QxoNs6FCi_UG1E-BP5dFwMsu6bPLr6VCsy9ed0Q7fX5s-kU88rEfQrIVTEYSqRW7nm8b2c3SrLzHzW3AnGGpV1BW/s320/hhoooecpjddggoaa-768311.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784363269181218" /></a></p> <p>It is lovely having such long hours of daylight. <br> </p> <p>At Signy we are busy preparing for Christmas, but there are still a few bits of fieldwork to complete before then. The Adelie colonies are now quite busy as the ever growing chicks demand more and more food. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uz1GUnFEraLKz1wRCUet12UF6l9f1vFp3SJNDkR82lFMIontj1y_z_GzbJWvcQDKH11kakyQ0tVI60RldiIMthqAfMPvIY4rvlAhi8jt_fgeZpXL48wBtefCXIaBbucoTH-bhYBtrndH/s1600/lohhajlfhjkpbbjn-769214.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uz1GUnFEraLKz1wRCUet12UF6l9f1vFp3SJNDkR82lFMIontj1y_z_GzbJWvcQDKH11kakyQ0tVI60RldiIMthqAfMPvIY4rvlAhi8jt_fgeZpXL48wBtefCXIaBbucoTH-bhYBtrndH/s320/lohhajlfhjkpbbjn-769214.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784367099372018" /></a></p> <p>It always suprises me how quickly they grow!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVetzZBoyMZOLPqdtarFjkMwshasZzwzYgImrHx9wrwSsPRV4D8BOCMUOiMji6bHWNqW4bjXzVX0q94mpw2FbagXCn9XeKz5mNV24fYegX0Vc4R9upIBClYq4iQJp5Akvxp0LBfgc0bes7/s1600/hhbggalemnbkgkpb-770695.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVetzZBoyMZOLPqdtarFjkMwshasZzwzYgImrHx9wrwSsPRV4D8BOCMUOiMji6bHWNqW4bjXzVX0q94mpw2FbagXCn9XeKz5mNV24fYegX0Vc4R9upIBClYq4iQJp5Akvxp0LBfgc0bes7/s320/hhbggalemnbkgkpb-770695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784375194669778" /></a></p> <p>Whilst out and about doing the whole island chinstrap penguin survey over the last week, we have visited most of the island. There were some rather nice views. These are Cape Petrels.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4csdC4KjtOF5L_hNh2rE8p9ci2BuX19cm0gvy0gkeRCQxCVdrJLJSrSepLx7gq4K7SqH6LSlHs_ICJVUI4I6clpws3FfkdL_OTUAgOvuG-PHGA0rFmyfr5lFclzkSHuAPqhDRdgRE32a-/s1600/jblggdomcckkbebm-771382.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4csdC4KjtOF5L_hNh2rE8p9ci2BuX19cm0gvy0gkeRCQxCVdrJLJSrSepLx7gq4K7SqH6LSlHs_ICJVUI4I6clpws3FfkdL_OTUAgOvuG-PHGA0rFmyfr5lFclzkSHuAPqhDRdgRE32a-/s320/jblggdomcckkbebm-771382.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784374076918754" /></a></p> <p>This is a large pile of Elephant seals.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe-kkdmFHJtY6R4NO4hsOM892l8CZ1tTkx89VZ6tZSg7TRfRVU0bcCf7Fl9wuhintuL1rZlBr9kZuSWAOutXjns3sMqAwbvqoMyL02xvPdJ8XehVK7H8NJm1L79hRdT5CWxoKHcTcsJkf/s1600/kfapagoopcfdhlka-772000.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe-kkdmFHJtY6R4NO4hsOM892l8CZ1tTkx89VZ6tZSg7TRfRVU0bcCf7Fl9wuhintuL1rZlBr9kZuSWAOutXjns3sMqAwbvqoMyL02xvPdJ8XehVK7H8NJm1L79hRdT5CWxoKHcTcsJkf/s320/kfapagoopcfdhlka-772000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784378383923794" /></a></p> <p>Gentoo chicks (also growing very fast!).</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNhRQmmv2nfK7Hm-hO0anou3XLaJTG2L1LrM6fFSF8JkTGSkhyphenhyphenswVOeamMI5xiRc8bNZaK6EdK9aKnSKBvqDVkph0pt7ShwOUBoETP6bBwJxwkogVkZI9quuRX3Ax30eFYuqjAGeWFqZz/s1600/ebmimiohdlmnaela-772808.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNhRQmmv2nfK7Hm-hO0anou3XLaJTG2L1LrM6fFSF8JkTGSkhyphenhyphenswVOeamMI5xiRc8bNZaK6EdK9aKnSKBvqDVkph0pt7ShwOUBoETP6bBwJxwkogVkZI9quuRX3Ax30eFYuqjAGeWFqZz/s320/ebmimiohdlmnaela-772808.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784381664666882" /></a></p> <p>And some peaks on the icecap.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91eZYWvZITC5bhhxnK2vwQGvFR6OT0A2Ld7vL6L-A35fru9dMjt3lkrpIeiBtsGMSQGrcu0QZYASv7NBO6DvekXjGWi_IxgGjxmhhlmnfRSTQ-NWlL894b6HAcI_bflBOQgho73n6kgJF/s1600/liajfnoglmfhgfde-774175.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91eZYWvZITC5bhhxnK2vwQGvFR6OT0A2Ld7vL6L-A35fru9dMjt3lkrpIeiBtsGMSQGrcu0QZYASv7NBO6DvekXjGWi_IxgGjxmhhlmnfRSTQ-NWlL894b6HAcI_bflBOQgho73n6kgJF/s320/liajfnoglmfhgfde-774175.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6502784388998672658" /></a></p> <p>I'll write about Christmas next time. Meanwhile, I wish everyone at home a lovely Christmas and best wishes for 2018. <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-27778022547578039132017-12-17T09:58:00.000+00:002017-12-17T15:42:50.533+00:00Something differentAt present I am very busy with fieldwork with a lot to squeeze in between now and Christmas. This season, in addition to the usual long term monitoring work, we are conducting a whole island Chinstrap survey. Although approximately 1500 birds are monitered every single year as part of the standard monitoring, in addition, every 10 years every bird on the island is counted. This year we are also conducting this survey using a drone to investigate its potential for surveying inaccessible places in the future. It is keeping us busy, but is fun to do.<br /> <br />
The survey gets us out and about all over the island, to the little nooks and crannies that we don't usually visit. We still have some pretty ice around.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ilK37YtykQQdlAibjVzewgQsR5epw9PaUUEbj3QQP_FGuTxIKgNwxah114oy976QxuHqzIhb0OQfix0cF60nE3j4w0xSqtfe0_Sqg4JUaLH_Y2nQX0x6tCvR0o8-pMCz23Nt8uidq-J9/s1600/poleoffhmojcblke-741073.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500540982528847682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ilK37YtykQQdlAibjVzewgQsR5epw9PaUUEbj3QQP_FGuTxIKgNwxah114oy976QxuHqzIhb0OQfix0cF60nE3j4w0xSqtfe0_Sqg4JUaLH_Y2nQX0x6tCvR0o8-pMCz23Nt8uidq-J9/s320/poleoffhmojcblke-741073.jpg" /></a><br />
Whilst out and about on the chinstrap survey, it has actually been the Adelies who have been the most photogenic as the chinstraps are just sitting dutifully on their eggs. There is much more activity in the Adelie colonies. The chicks are already suprisingly large!<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b8quzWGvv_jyvbMrD-ZhBHt_fPB6chJPjoIdDEMfxsZ2949dlvIfiLZEXmAUAZNN1xHhsO1wx6LAODHkMFK8OdRndBQPqWb_m0SVOFfVx_EK9HREc1MVzQdGoOCjL4e6HnS9wxVYNQut/s1600/jgpcppgfhgfdeiib-742295.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500540987770059778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b8quzWGvv_jyvbMrD-ZhBHt_fPB6chJPjoIdDEMfxsZ2949dlvIfiLZEXmAUAZNN1xHhsO1wx6LAODHkMFK8OdRndBQPqWb_m0SVOFfVx_EK9HREc1MVzQdGoOCjL4e6HnS9wxVYNQut/s320/jgpcppgfhgfdeiib-742295.jpg" /></a><br />
This pair is almost too big to fit underneath its parent. It is good to see many nests still with two chicks- in a really poor year they can only find enough food to rear one.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGVZO3HGjVdNgAeshWBUffW0RTscvoP5drsFp-JH13o5Us-LiDJVkt0vDjbYSm0KiyYnh7N2rPUVnxU99nTKp3hyphenhyphenZHcRseEgTzQGXvAQyciugWkHsXQARSaSwIo5gmce-r6GVQKyro0Vf/s1600/mchfocabgjpgbhoe-743371.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500540991804144354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGVZO3HGjVdNgAeshWBUffW0RTscvoP5drsFp-JH13o5Us-LiDJVkt0vDjbYSm0KiyYnh7N2rPUVnxU99nTKp3hyphenhyphenZHcRseEgTzQGXvAQyciugWkHsXQARSaSwIo5gmce-r6GVQKyro0Vf/s320/mchfocabgjpgbhoe-743371.jpg" /></a><br />
Whilst out surveying we came across something quite special. Spot the odd one out! <br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XjiYSsgbiwtduOPjfT3SUMzd0xwOLWTqTBB0Ucz8scyrkkIq9cQfJ0ARrkM_4gRGQNznG38MLVQZS5sAPjznadZ8jkv3ATEVuiNy08FyARtm7kHF51midx47nWrMXqAQWIMilFJnHaFk/s1600/plblhlfhakgiillb-744310.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500540995319748738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XjiYSsgbiwtduOPjfT3SUMzd0xwOLWTqTBB0Ucz8scyrkkIq9cQfJ0ARrkM_4gRGQNznG38MLVQZS5sAPjznadZ8jkv3ATEVuiNy08FyARtm7kHF51midx47nWrMXqAQWIMilFJnHaFk/s320/plblhlfhakgiillb-744310.jpg" /></a><br />
This Adelie is leucistic, meaning it has a pigment disorder resulting in a partial loss of pigmentation in its feathers. This form of leucism is known as Isabellinism- where the bird has a uniform reduction in the pigment melanin all over, giving it a honey colour everywhere that should be black. It has brownish toenails and an almost red beak. It is not an albino, which would have no colour at all and pale eyes.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeOQkF9Xta12iD-ynOAZLM2Se1vFL6yyfqNzhYBPyXuGWrzsW98XnlGA70dZRZ3L8i1W9ROtez8GmSkvVtQ7-vFkmsUYUlWyh8S-zZhh_Xqp6HufSDHQ8M388R-94gaXu51A7AbtYi3g1/s1600/pdiihlmmjfpdombh-745477.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500541000728329554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeOQkF9Xta12iD-ynOAZLM2Se1vFL6yyfqNzhYBPyXuGWrzsW98XnlGA70dZRZ3L8i1W9ROtez8GmSkvVtQ7-vFkmsUYUlWyh8S-zZhh_Xqp6HufSDHQ8M388R-94gaXu51A7AbtYi3g1/s320/pdiihlmmjfpdombh-745477.jpg" /></a><br />
It looked perfectly happy with its fellow colony buddies.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLUKp1ZVpg5UqKs5sYHzZ8wS6iw0ZZGeeRux5uFY5voGbXOdoP4PRtBQgE8ptD6tcaebXjsI64mkHCpQIgCb2dsq9sSpc6XWuprGsccreubGfvsi6na3soXbTOddOsF6twR0JYnrXeNG8/s1600/iihjagfnhllekeck-746811.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500541008144657602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLUKp1ZVpg5UqKs5sYHzZ8wS6iw0ZZGeeRux5uFY5voGbXOdoP4PRtBQgE8ptD6tcaebXjsI64mkHCpQIgCb2dsq9sSpc6XWuprGsccreubGfvsi6na3soXbTOddOsF6twR0JYnrXeNG8/s320/iihjagfnhllekeck-746811.jpg" /></a><br />
Finally to finish, here is some more ice in the bay.<br /> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtvOaYwuNxci0eOvJkj58KHi7UJNU4fIn_Wm1QcKOpYfK0P_1L8h26CQ5oWcCl4tcpo-qhH14cb-TYeQFbjsktwky3kFrwwb0rYp5HHnBBfz6e1U8TI2UBUl5NVrhsbHczRp6KmswZvRg/s1600/pjhieneglhmdbflj-747966.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6500541013489142306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtvOaYwuNxci0eOvJkj58KHi7UJNU4fIn_Wm1QcKOpYfK0P_1L8h26CQ5oWcCl4tcpo-qhH14cb-TYeQFbjsktwky3kFrwwb0rYp5HHnBBfz6e1U8TI2UBUl5NVrhsbHczRp6KmswZvRg/s320/pjhieneglhmdbflj-747966.jpg" /></a><br />
On base we are starting to prepare for Christmas. We put the Christmas tree and decorations up yesterday and my Christmas cakes are maturing, waiting to be iced. The temperatures are hovering around minus two- probably warmer than the UK at present! <br /> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-65028033454359008122017-12-11T09:22:00.000+00:002017-12-11T09:49:01.350+00:00Moving on<p>The season is moving on- we have been here for almost a quarter of our time already. In another 10 days we'll have reached the longest day here. It doesn't really get dark at night much these days which is rather nice. <br> </p> <p>The wildlife is also busy progressing through the season. The Adelie penguins now have small chicks.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkiuOQE_KZFxyjx65BgEkGSAYRxu6KOPhDgn_w4H-hudT7qe1jOMTocNQnnq6Y84tubuzI-ePY5n0kC4P8T67XRrXaIeThLE6hGyG90ks0993somSFsXFdGEfQWcIqQQ_4hezI4nUhHzv/s1600/ekomkhankfhmiooi-741418.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkiuOQE_KZFxyjx65BgEkGSAYRxu6KOPhDgn_w4H-hudT7qe1jOMTocNQnnq6Y84tubuzI-ePY5n0kC4P8T67XRrXaIeThLE6hGyG90ks0993somSFsXFdGEfQWcIqQQ_4hezI4nUhHzv/s320/ekomkhankfhmiooi-741418.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224281268582898" /></a></p> <p>They are guarding these closely from predators like skuas and giant petrels.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOCEX8FqdOqJZWrgCFxJa3E4jECZ3WixGGthRq_x-J77rlXbiXlPO1UVkGLSkU_0ZxN6XDV4H5KjFG5jhIAr77Igpx4v8EP8vI-pos_Jv52dBHvWilbvyc1Q30YHNdNI-g_3wZtKY4bR8/s1600/bhmdndnkjihiaimg-742808.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOCEX8FqdOqJZWrgCFxJa3E4jECZ3WixGGthRq_x-J77rlXbiXlPO1UVkGLSkU_0ZxN6XDV4H5KjFG5jhIAr77Igpx4v8EP8vI-pos_Jv52dBHvWilbvyc1Q30YHNdNI-g_3wZtKY4bR8/s320/bhmdndnkjihiaimg-742808.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224289235006370" /></a></p> <p>The chinstraps nest about a month later than the Adelies. <br> </p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1p9j1DM6B6JZE2bJpDdM__uO3Jv6Dg47fSZzOrgPYU-KrhKiK-wqeEsj_1ZNeb_8FE8JYTbUOgPFVKfERzSRFFwi7o6RMHA0ttd2L7u_BYFQUVATwH6ZjhM0F6udLD6GhQpylb4g9ZV0/s1600/hjdfjokaibeijofe-743697.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1p9j1DM6B6JZE2bJpDdM__uO3Jv6Dg47fSZzOrgPYU-KrhKiK-wqeEsj_1ZNeb_8FE8JYTbUOgPFVKfERzSRFFwi7o6RMHA0ttd2L7u_BYFQUVATwH6ZjhM0F6udLD6GhQpylb4g9ZV0/s320/hjdfjokaibeijofe-743697.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224293379028226" /></a></p> <p>They have just finished laying their eggs and now begin the process of incubating them.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSmlBsT-Srz5qJFlLKHxAPmofGG0xsLh6BvctJfksLL1D1yHydGHSMAlfLPFTD-tFZGRf_BsS-Eug368Z7P2G0xBcswjl3YpLQ-3i_HIvGF_-f4bcpqS-Onj5mulHohlWmeTqYcsxk2c9/s1600/egnlgnglogjggdpa-745270.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSmlBsT-Srz5qJFlLKHxAPmofGG0xsLh6BvctJfksLL1D1yHydGHSMAlfLPFTD-tFZGRf_BsS-Eug368Z7P2G0xBcswjl3YpLQ-3i_HIvGF_-f4bcpqS-Onj5mulHohlWmeTqYcsxk2c9/s320/egnlgnglogjggdpa-745270.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224298248631202" /></a></p> <p>We had a nice visitor one day to the beach in front of the station. This little Weddell seal came to visit and seemed very content snoozing on the beach. <br> </p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O-hvHaT9aTWZ_8EihgthEcwrgbUe0M54hEqz7AKWxAXBzAu-G3dP1UV5RDJgudVQJOCtdN3X-qYC1-WJqfGUZCs1amxMYmrs-maxxHv9Fw4rVLiF8rFgXJY00i_AgkmpPOBGuXpDc2IH/s1600/kohjpegbkphjhjep-746670.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O-hvHaT9aTWZ_8EihgthEcwrgbUe0M54hEqz7AKWxAXBzAu-G3dP1UV5RDJgudVQJOCtdN3X-qYC1-WJqfGUZCs1amxMYmrs-maxxHv9Fw4rVLiF8rFgXJY00i_AgkmpPOBGuXpDc2IH/s320/kohjpegbkphjhjep-746670.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224305091343954" /></a></p> <p>Meanwhile, on station things moved on too and we had the second ship visit of the season- the RRS Ernest Shackleton, which called yesterday. It is too big to get to the jetty (so people and cargo are moved in small boats) but it has a shallow draft so can get much closer than our other ship, the James Clark Ross.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrf9qVADomRPdkDgCCcYV5cJX1K7Wgn3Lp7Iru1D0j1RruxQ_TIKxi_WGc1qrLp43-W9_1L3G_lfjZSmVOmMzcbTo9hxym3FkUIE9BSdqdJ-RxXn08rzlf_K3WbdIeqLq7KxeSfzLOkJp/s1600/jmplcccanglkebnf-747538.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrf9qVADomRPdkDgCCcYV5cJX1K7Wgn3Lp7Iru1D0j1RruxQ_TIKxi_WGc1qrLp43-W9_1L3G_lfjZSmVOmMzcbTo9hxym3FkUIE9BSdqdJ-RxXn08rzlf_K3WbdIeqLq7KxeSfzLOkJp/s320/jmplcccanglkebnf-747538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224305272529794" /></a></p> <p>The Shackleton brought four new scientists. This bring the number of people on station up to eight, which is the maximum we can fit in. It feels much busier than it did til now as there were only 5 of us for the first part of the season. Claudia, who has been with us from the start but has now finished her science here, left on the ship. She has been collecting small crustaceans from the lakes and shorelines around the island. Here are the original team- Matt, Iain, Me, Catrin and Claudia. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aO2S6lIO_5pgWpBQG3HJTnbt-7FdCWXeYYBAhIob6i-5rFwjiNXTOIl7C7sjc8WT3Pp23b3Ygf4QaxbqDCRqyECDJYm_-OZf0dWTOIjyjFhWcL9oUVg-wpWfyIdHGNUVooGlkfxRhl5c/s1600/ecbiikejnnijahnl-748903.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aO2S6lIO_5pgWpBQG3HJTnbt-7FdCWXeYYBAhIob6i-5rFwjiNXTOIl7C7sjc8WT3Pp23b3Ygf4QaxbqDCRqyECDJYm_-OZf0dWTOIjyjFhWcL9oUVg-wpWfyIdHGNUVooGlkfxRhl5c/s320/ecbiikejnnijahnl-748903.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6498224312424065458" /></a></p> <p>(the orange boilersuits are not compulsary, but they are a firm favourite for wearing around and about- rather like wearing a duvet!) <br> </p> <p>This will now be the last ship we see until early February when there will be another change of personnel, who will join us for the remainder of the season. The next couple of months will be the busiest- there is much to do!<br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-49990804244758309032017-12-01T11:42:00.000+00:002017-12-01T11:55:05.493+00:00Antarctica Day<p>Happy Antarctica Day!</p> <p>December 1st is Antarctica Day. This day celebrates the signing of the Antarctic Treaty on 1st December 1959. The Antarctic Treaty, signed by 48 nations is a perfect example of global cooperation between nations, designating the whole of Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science". The treaty sets aside all claims of territorial ownership by the various nations, and prohibits military activities and mineral extraction. Conventions passed by the treaty nations protect the Antarctic as a whole, enhancing scientific discovery, monitoring the status of the continent and its wildlife (my job) and regulating fishing and tourism to sustainable levels. The treaty has resulted in successful cooperation between all nations, working together for the greater good and is as strong now as when it was first signed. <br> </p> <p>If you are interested, more information (an interesting read) can be found at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/antarctica/the-antarctic-treaty/the-antarctic-treaty-explained/">https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/antarctica/the-antarctic-treaty/the-antarctic-treaty-explained/</a> <br> </p> <p>It seems a shame to me that we can't use this as a model for the rest of the world! <br> </p> <p>We can't celebrate Antarctica Day without some penguins, so here are a few pictures. The Adelies are currently still incubating and the colonies are clean and tidy with each bird sitting on their nest of pebbles, patiently waiting for their eggs to hatch. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCenbwCVmafj_WiIYabErvm_Fi6Rd6Xx1VbmXlRZsPf1bZHnRQboYKUTbDx9gD6n6SFt3UdAv8T9qAhY0wuTQVnFm1hh0JWWZozDoXk_rQUdtVY5p7d_7sqmkdkhAkeEVs05RpBoyxq4gP/s1600/damhbjnimpaipdgh-705494.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCenbwCVmafj_WiIYabErvm_Fi6Rd6Xx1VbmXlRZsPf1bZHnRQboYKUTbDx9gD6n6SFt3UdAv8T9qAhY0wuTQVnFm1hh0JWWZozDoXk_rQUdtVY5p7d_7sqmkdkhAkeEVs05RpBoyxq4gP/s320/damhbjnimpaipdgh-705494.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6494545917552466434" /></a></p> <p>Its a long job, so snoozing is often a good way to pass the time...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixy8VzDqBD6jPK4V_oVw3WtRAr4OKDlC_Uvhspanr0y7sANXAv3Jt_N6aVEKoIuG646MopLvyEiv15dLhlnjLc_gaJjhBZS0xEj6byp2N46oYOYsNy5rFTxuu3kxPMsBxMZHHO0TmytmcU/s1600/djfbhfngmijegcno-706643.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixy8VzDqBD6jPK4V_oVw3WtRAr4OKDlC_Uvhspanr0y7sANXAv3Jt_N6aVEKoIuG646MopLvyEiv15dLhlnjLc_gaJjhBZS0xEj6byp2N46oYOYsNy5rFTxuu3kxPMsBxMZHHO0TmytmcU/s320/djfbhfngmijegcno-706643.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6494545923199449826" /></a></p> <p>Yesterday when I went to visit my study birds, it was exceedingly windy and the birds had all turned themselves round to face the wind. This made them look particularly neat and tidy.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0KqtDVIVzobPhSug-lh08zL2OyLylYdXf-M2gQ7kgyimvrkbNjJgVVKm8V19iq0YXrFvRYiuTxbObrUDj5x7ZrRNxjHe46uNgsZZYs98EucH4caO6ea7GF4euxTlyPs-KNXIyKq4GwIQ/s1600/lcgdamicgonajmkj-707358.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0KqtDVIVzobPhSug-lh08zL2OyLylYdXf-M2gQ7kgyimvrkbNjJgVVKm8V19iq0YXrFvRYiuTxbObrUDj5x7ZrRNxjHe46uNgsZZYs98EucH4caO6ea7GF4euxTlyPs-KNXIyKq4GwIQ/s320/lcgdamicgonajmkj-707358.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6494545920947381954" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJaLJ72_csXVCIJkH46IpuKnE4DSk5dre1Si_fbVYLDf-y0T6_5FO4lf5ll30IaQOypifOXtpsnnDLEjOygn4uhvFHfy93_UZDArnbVXjBNPfOpHhGypElAV1gBNw3S1fztYikrtIk09/s1600/amjnolddkimkfiod-708517.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJaLJ72_csXVCIJkH46IpuKnE4DSk5dre1Si_fbVYLDf-y0T6_5FO4lf5ll30IaQOypifOXtpsnnDLEjOygn4uhvFHfy93_UZDArnbVXjBNPfOpHhGypElAV1gBNw3S1fztYikrtIk09/s320/amjnolddkimkfiod-708517.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6494545925651962818" /></a></p> <p>From the front the Adelies look rather intimidating! Not something to be messed with. Especially the one in the middle of the picture!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH6efQ4Q3REe_pacoSS4lQVwW6uv3XwnUadsBM7Ind3XSzBc1te0fpkr2fDF2rx49O8W1Et_CHcq_RmW3PiYKp_DiCxHCbuFeniE2hlZZeYnAZY4eQyuk7s5WwpezQUjgZDMU2wcsMR37/s1600/mceehmbfnplmmggp-711547.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH6efQ4Q3REe_pacoSS4lQVwW6uv3XwnUadsBM7Ind3XSzBc1te0fpkr2fDF2rx49O8W1Et_CHcq_RmW3PiYKp_DiCxHCbuFeniE2hlZZeYnAZY4eQyuk7s5WwpezQUjgZDMU2wcsMR37/s320/mceehmbfnplmmggp-711547.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6494545942971259474" /></a><br> </p> <p>The first egg was just showing signs of hatching yesterday with a pea-sized hole in the shell and a tiny beak showing through. It will hatch fully today- what better day to arrive into the world than on Antarctica Day!<br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-52702159341411536012017-11-24T10:48:00.000+00:002017-11-24T10:56:08.818+00:00Settled in<p>With the ship gone, it was time to settle in and start work. Within a few days of it leaving, the rest of the boxes were all unpacked and the research station was fully up and running. Everyone settled into their various roles and routines. <br> </p> <p>My first job was to head across to Gourlay to my penguin colonies there. This is where I do the majority of my monitoring work. It is about an hours walk from the research station. The Adelie penguins were here long before we were, and are already settled on eggs. These should start hatching any day now. For such a noisy bird, the colonies are suprisingly quiet at this stage. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt5t_6OAIAgkfG48ZtS0Y1tIAaUVoRtDEuV3lTW_xSYxEdyaDnk-kBe00u7v3aDaJho0usgaCegA7akaTKtkuFmBDSN4hKuseLepgcEMdCrFmovX08gbBz7R0xfT3MEZc38ZLBuwPxp-e/s1600/bdphjfgnhaeplfck-768820.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt5t_6OAIAgkfG48ZtS0Y1tIAaUVoRtDEuV3lTW_xSYxEdyaDnk-kBe00u7v3aDaJho0usgaCegA7akaTKtkuFmBDSN4hKuseLepgcEMdCrFmovX08gbBz7R0xfT3MEZc38ZLBuwPxp-e/s320/bdphjfgnhaeplfck-768820.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933129210008322" /></a></p> <p>There are a lot of Adelies at Gourlay...<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqs2Jjw4wwgF6CKonf0GZjDVTw23KmsUBSsQmZk-nqpjO138yunwtq6B4qcsUOKZxCfhlZMEWSNTA3npyViI1iLbgiBVZdo_9uTlpShv2jbt62cWFt-Zmu07dZ0j5PC6GpN7BSv-T1YJn/s1600/hcaembhjfmoahdkb-770388.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqs2Jjw4wwgF6CKonf0GZjDVTw23KmsUBSsQmZk-nqpjO138yunwtq6B4qcsUOKZxCfhlZMEWSNTA3npyViI1iLbgiBVZdo_9uTlpShv2jbt62cWFt-Zmu07dZ0j5PC6GpN7BSv-T1YJn/s320/hcaembhjfmoahdkb-770388.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933138952626866" /></a></p> <p>It is important to try and work out what stage in the breeding season they are at, so I can conduct the rest of the seasons counts at the correct stages through the breeding season to enable them to be consistant over the years and therefore contribute to the longterm datasets. Their arrival times can vary by several weeks depending on a range of factors such as the amount of sea ice and the condition of the birds themselves. Once the eggs start to hatch, we will be able to determine when the eggs were laid. <br> </p> <p>Away from Gourlay, we had a day trip to Northpoint, which is (as expected) the northern most point of the island. This is where the gentoos nest. They were also settled on their eggs.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UzWXpaV1ZZBQrQR2qZMpX42hCZew10NAlWuIw-27Dh9TfrdRyA3PxLyJiCQO-D7l_tFkB_eMGpIGwpmwzGiTlcj82-4YyNh3pLEmfjeZgh0YKlY1VP7IOw09pdQDJY2P95R_WQBzEBfB/s1600/gbkdmcadbebcjkkm-771364.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UzWXpaV1ZZBQrQR2qZMpX42hCZew10NAlWuIw-27Dh9TfrdRyA3PxLyJiCQO-D7l_tFkB_eMGpIGwpmwzGiTlcj82-4YyNh3pLEmfjeZgh0YKlY1VP7IOw09pdQDJY2P95R_WQBzEBfB/s320/gbkdmcadbebcjkkm-771364.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933143650554018" /></a></p> <p>The Blue-eyed shags also nest at Northpoint. They have spent a lot of time neatly constructing nests and are just starting to lay eggs now. Being able to fly, they have the advantage of a wider choice of nesting materials and often build with seaweed. Their nests look much softer and more comfortable than those of the penguins! <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcoZDF8K1NuZIukFc8K2U71dM2Db8GMeyNnxgyb0rQMTYZLqntDifdgYZR6ag5ec8lxNzjMu0mt0WT67zLxTOXr0i-elJ27tuDP2dNBvs27HNmcoCE1bQJCkWfqQDterEypbPEXxv-Rxw/s1600/iahmmbichdjiecaj-772192.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcoZDF8K1NuZIukFc8K2U71dM2Db8GMeyNnxgyb0rQMTYZLqntDifdgYZR6ag5ec8lxNzjMu0mt0WT67zLxTOXr0i-elJ27tuDP2dNBvs27HNmcoCE1bQJCkWfqQDterEypbPEXxv-Rxw/s320/iahmmbichdjiecaj-772192.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933145468509618" /></a></p> <p> There weren't many chinstraps around when we first arrived as they breed later in the season. The first males were just arriving, to defend their nest sites from rival males and start building a nice pile of pebbles, ready to impress their partners who arrive a few days later. <br> </p> <p>We have quite a lot of sea ice at present which looks particularly nice on a sunny day. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKOzoPBgW0g0dz5CqzXm15LGGvvIvenNnHIJqGSjTbHmArC5r5q__u4wkjo3W6obCLSUiSP6HNruLIbqXWgqnOr41ocNX9idNCvVgJqqrnpd6r0t5b8hYwYczVtw2QPL6PsLqIA9IO3VI/s1600/phfdeodckkfleajo-772945.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKOzoPBgW0g0dz5CqzXm15LGGvvIvenNnHIJqGSjTbHmArC5r5q__u4wkjo3W6obCLSUiSP6HNruLIbqXWgqnOr41ocNX9idNCvVgJqqrnpd6r0t5b8hYwYczVtw2QPL6PsLqIA9IO3VI/s320/phfdeodckkfleajo-772945.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933150417890898" /></a></p> <p>The sea ice constantly changes. As the wind direction and tides change, the sea ice moves around so every day is different. These penguins were in the bay at Foca Cove, which was full of sea ice when we visited. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLASOy5vRIDg6mECGMlG874iifC5okeV_jMSZ0BMTdDCjEUZi43y5NwSIukk620yu2U_Fjgo3ctso9eNhXv8dZyGGJ8hT2tH0z3DWNAI-JgEKKBELyahWR3DMaMqldsdEGjHjl-jhOtreB/s1600/nndgokmjpgngiodh-774023.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLASOy5vRIDg6mECGMlG874iifC5okeV_jMSZ0BMTdDCjEUZi43y5NwSIukk620yu2U_Fjgo3ctso9eNhXv8dZyGGJ8hT2tH0z3DWNAI-JgEKKBELyahWR3DMaMqldsdEGjHjl-jhOtreB/s320/nndgokmjpgngiodh-774023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933151813892018" /></a></p> <p>Here is Claudia for scale... <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf-3CT6f_MhmI9Uk2RK-olekqRE9Oss75NSHn9x_6KbNAqYsl0NlggRWvmiiP7iHQTjoyh5fuM2Km2AssIyCs0SVXGAnGSkmtqcyVugY3u1LzgTVUgyWeJgcxsNXBSvFbq19pdPjonL89/s1600/pekmchhkmeigfenh-775397.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf-3CT6f_MhmI9Uk2RK-olekqRE9Oss75NSHn9x_6KbNAqYsl0NlggRWvmiiP7iHQTjoyh5fuM2Km2AssIyCs0SVXGAnGSkmtqcyVugY3u1LzgTVUgyWeJgcxsNXBSvFbq19pdPjonL89/s320/pekmchhkmeigfenh-775397.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6491933155298077058" /></a></p> <p>We have been quite lucky with the weather so far, enjoying some beautiful sunny days and some lovely snow.</p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-33975544113065467012017-11-17T09:47:00.000+00:002017-11-17T10:21:55.315+00:00ArrivalAfter three slightly bumpy days at sea we arrived at the South Orkney Islands, a small group of islands in the southern ocean. Signy, the island upon which I spend my summer, is one of the smaller islands in this group. We arrived on a cold day. The information screen informed us that the sea temperature was -1.32 degrees centigrade. I always think its strange that water can be below zero degrees and not be frozen solid, but that is the case with salt water. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmIFY6E0yQAXwMjMgC2HkhY5vCOfSfrNRymK_rBUlw7VWDIULGqTha_HYk3hwif3pQ9v21AMsXwizUIhyphenhyphenkFWdZwlc9pxAR-eOmB_g-YH7kzpe1EkGRA35fZ3RmH0uiNszDL81Fz2I8pyG/s1600/lajeojnfpccbfcgc-795785.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320188084338418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmIFY6E0yQAXwMjMgC2HkhY5vCOfSfrNRymK_rBUlw7VWDIULGqTha_HYk3hwif3pQ9v21AMsXwizUIhyphenhyphenkFWdZwlc9pxAR-eOmB_g-YH7kzpe1EkGRA35fZ3RmH0uiNszDL81Fz2I8pyG/s320/lajeojnfpccbfcgc-795785.jpg" /></a><br />
With the air temperature pretty chilly too, the aft deck was covered in ice where the waves had been washing over it and freezing immediately. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-T-_VF07qsqnnrnQxzNYBLcW15-ue6OkrT9QWhINH0Kyd4MRxFUpbgSvrk5vlO0WKoC_6eQEOz-l-XASK7l0Gd4tO5mmE3DKZQESqjBjUKvluueR0qRs_o_QxaDBJoDBhZFEPPbO6l4v/s1600/eladlhmlddbgdgfb-797049.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320192725522562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-T-_VF07qsqnnrnQxzNYBLcW15-ue6OkrT9QWhINH0Kyd4MRxFUpbgSvrk5vlO0WKoC_6eQEOz-l-XASK7l0Gd4tO5mmE3DKZQESqjBjUKvluueR0qRs_o_QxaDBJoDBhZFEPPbO6l4v/s320/eladlhmlddbgdgfb-797049.jpg" /></a><br />
The rest of the ship looked like some kind of ghost ship with everything white and ice covered.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBUMOQLKba2VkTctzgFFjT_vYF7rRjc3IatgWZISY4LO2h2tpvN-q5rmiRUCaSGnAvhgizxitWGU55f1hWQV210cpA_ruUe1-Da-ZMEstHYzCIvcaagRE_ZzUGq2clT2IVLKnHjAN0tGm/s1600/dmjhjpokbknciahb-798309.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320202204234818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBUMOQLKba2VkTctzgFFjT_vYF7rRjc3IatgWZISY4LO2h2tpvN-q5rmiRUCaSGnAvhgizxitWGU55f1hWQV210cpA_ruUe1-Da-ZMEstHYzCIvcaagRE_ZzUGq2clT2IVLKnHjAN0tGm/s320/dmjhjpokbknciahb-798309.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8wRMb9J3ZOppmpLVKqPzzSAt4BMz3LzAlcnnLUHSvF4WK2IYUwHCzM72q7VnZ9-XfmfE-dTJjz5enCyqxUYpcwVv0quTuL1hkKITaLrdJzTrtglLk23wZ4eVf4uYszuQxlG_8C0ojeAb/s1600/kipcfhdbomnhlmll-799731.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320206795120002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8wRMb9J3ZOppmpLVKqPzzSAt4BMz3LzAlcnnLUHSvF4WK2IYUwHCzM72q7VnZ9-XfmfE-dTJjz5enCyqxUYpcwVv0quTuL1hkKITaLrdJzTrtglLk23wZ4eVf4uYszuQxlG_8C0ojeAb/s320/kipcfhdbomnhlmll-799731.jpg" /></a><br />
It was going to be a cold day for working! The first cargo tender arrived to offload people to start the process of opening up the base for the summer. Jobs to be done were to dig out the walkways and doorways to the buildings, to remove shutters from the windows and to start the process of getting the services up and running. On days like this, everyone, regardless of their reason for being onboard, mucks in to get the job done. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UKM0q_PTVN1RdnhV9_h9BcvYDcT-pYx02ONpaOMTjx_bAgaN4dqhnbrGFWZZ8uY7g-Jid5SwoA4SVDrrm2Q0FnaKGTpFtS6M9KlbgsKHIQLz88Pp6GVLMmqQJ5vRrFUx4MF2u_HKsQ5u/s1600/plcllcicbcchigcc-700829.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320211303291826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UKM0q_PTVN1RdnhV9_h9BcvYDcT-pYx02ONpaOMTjx_bAgaN4dqhnbrGFWZZ8uY7g-Jid5SwoA4SVDrrm2Q0FnaKGTpFtS6M9KlbgsKHIQLz88Pp6GVLMmqQJ5vRrFUx4MF2u_HKsQ5u/s320/plcllcicbcchigcc-700829.jpg" /></a><br />
These jobs all take time and have to be done in the right order. Generators have to be warmed up properly before they can be started and buildings need a chance to warm up before things like communications can be switched on. The first day went very well, and by the end of the first day we had heating, lighting and flushing toilets on station meaning we were able to spend the first night ashore in our Signy home.<br />
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Day two dawned a complete contrast with glorious blue skies and sunshine.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLoRl5kQlHWruCa78REUgOZ55JHqp64fo_ou4b-frvlS3Y6P8_x0-iWSrK-NBtBq15rp5Rz1HBxk9vJ05fpLpT21gqPIny6X1LrtKUPRP-udPc3v6CM1tfBxqytS42nxsVZIiuffcayef/s1600/enpckapihekglpbl-701724.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320216339209682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLoRl5kQlHWruCa78REUgOZ55JHqp64fo_ou4b-frvlS3Y6P8_x0-iWSrK-NBtBq15rp5Rz1HBxk9vJ05fpLpT21gqPIny6X1LrtKUPRP-udPc3v6CM1tfBxqytS42nxsVZIiuffcayef/s320/enpckapihekglpbl-701724.jpg" /></a><br />
The digging continued...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzzwKe8mpAa5SC361BO-Rf0r9-SNxIcxonrgwrMJwLyVs2lSIPemqoURpDYpSgh0pmFtb_sanljaZqrZn9SX-VaotFgxr9ghtaY1YZLxb8oJ6sA_SdqBU9poWBqQCO0YFJDiZGxgDfc0G/s1600/ggindfjppgpbmbnb-703184.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320220855736034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzzwKe8mpAa5SC361BO-Rf0r9-SNxIcxonrgwrMJwLyVs2lSIPemqoURpDYpSgh0pmFtb_sanljaZqrZn9SX-VaotFgxr9ghtaY1YZLxb8oJ6sA_SdqBU9poWBqQCO0YFJDiZGxgDfc0G/s320/ggindfjppgpbmbnb-703184.jpg" /></a><br />
This pipe is critical to life at Signy- it brings sea water into the generator shed where it is pumped up to the main building for flushing toilets, or diverted to the Reverse Osmosis plant which converts it to drinking water. <br />
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By the end of day two we had started making fresh water, all of the cargo was ashore and being unpacked, and the base was starting to feel much more homely.<br />
The ship finally left us with a fully functional base at the end of day three. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzaeI9W2ISPq1_OEoPUhu7uJB0ubdLUIWt_Iqx31yj6FjE6w_RDCFqT48T1AjBM25q33g3tQkYDJU-rvOvKWal0ZAJK_yp3jql963F1c681X9giv_ieVn1jk_ORmJ8lonDRhCCKR_480n/s1600/fgbdkhcnoojenocj-704805.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320229441184002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzaeI9W2ISPq1_OEoPUhu7uJB0ubdLUIWt_Iqx31yj6FjE6w_RDCFqT48T1AjBM25q33g3tQkYDJU-rvOvKWal0ZAJK_yp3jql963F1c681X9giv_ieVn1jk_ORmJ8lonDRhCCKR_480n/s320/fgbdkhcnoojenocj-704805.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3gILdOeobzVNoU6Y9tVfaB_PK_7K1EYZSIz5QVUyw2wwIxVdIhhhwzhymE_h5pNy0O5Ie0BLPftElFRmNjezhP3MhIpK5wIN1RFAjShhX0BW-OUd66zrlucRg7J6oGxmvhrj04PPO9Tr/s1600/ppngnkonalpdjieh-705692.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6489320231477097106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3gILdOeobzVNoU6Y9tVfaB_PK_7K1EYZSIz5QVUyw2wwIxVdIhhhwzhymE_h5pNy0O5Ie0BLPftElFRmNjezhP3MhIpK5wIN1RFAjShhX0BW-OUd66zrlucRg7J6oGxmvhrj04PPO9Tr/s320/ppngnkonalpdjieh-705692.jpg" /></a><br />
This year there are only 5 of us for the first part of the season, but we are back up to eight people with the next ship call in early December. There is much to do in the next couple of weeks- unpacking all of the cargo that has come ashore, stocking the foodstore, tidying up, and starting the science that allows us to be here in the first place. <br />
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It is great to be home!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-64424904515100485422017-11-03T23:54:00.000+00:002017-11-04T00:00:59.363+00:00A New Season<p>Back in the UK the clocks were put back an hour. For me this is time to migrate down to the Antarctic for the summer season, avoiding the long dark UK winters nights. This year I am returning as usual, to Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands. This season is significant as it will be my 10th summer season in Antarctica- an entire decade of penguins! <br> </p> <p>We flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire late on Sunday night, via Cape Verde, and onwards to the Falkland Islands. We saw little of Cape Verde except the airport building, but it seemed a pleasantly warm place with temperatures reaching 25 degrees at 7am so I expect it was going to be a warm day! When we arrived in the Falklands we were transported by bus to the ship, the RRS James Clark Ross which was moored just outside Stanley. Everything happened quite fast this year so there wasn't time to get much sightseeing done in town before we set sail round to Mare Harbour on the other side of the island, where we took on fuel. Here there was time for a short walk out with my camera. <br> </p> <p>It is spring in the Falklands:</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lw4RnA2KSinhdal_vmWmjRXDokhyI0b_VU6hFGgDHeocSD1Muqlq4fv1vi73prrTj6JAiDXT32bE7PakSg7oEA1fvVeEocmcDwVNatXxZMkxI4sssD55dVGkS8JnqXkuuQarI4B0ZlGr/s1600/pegookgdemdpikog-759364.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lw4RnA2KSinhdal_vmWmjRXDokhyI0b_VU6hFGgDHeocSD1Muqlq4fv1vi73prrTj6JAiDXT32bE7PakSg7oEA1fvVeEocmcDwVNatXxZMkxI4sssD55dVGkS8JnqXkuuQarI4B0ZlGr/s320/pegookgdemdpikog-759364.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342594770401970" /></a></p> <p>Everything is looking quite green (for the Falklands anyway!):</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNz4GRUbj1p9AU__PcTXm5ieDzz74PFYiQaNG549d2XIgV4BGkYm5ragucxWyJcIAhp8cwUcDKj1m1wgrm4wotLDnho60hRRjbDG1hBZtQZ8aolH1tGknyfxkb_sAe4C9Tz0RGqEaBkbK/s1600/oembikjcchamfabk-760812.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNz4GRUbj1p9AU__PcTXm5ieDzz74PFYiQaNG549d2XIgV4BGkYm5ragucxWyJcIAhp8cwUcDKj1m1wgrm4wotLDnho60hRRjbDG1hBZtQZ8aolH1tGknyfxkb_sAe4C9Tz0RGqEaBkbK/s320/oembikjcchamfabk-760812.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342601156045538" /></a></p> <p>The vegetation is quite sparse with some bizarre plants:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjftQkgVumzT4wD5YycBzNaHNAQRvjnkjps21g6D4-jyHsjar98JYkTRm_CooY_saqS6PJjThOgnsluOz-bEvkbVLfcwH-X4J_3mujCjyY5R99ccXenYcxzEXCjMe5D89ljo2rXbgC5n2t/s1600/ikmnflplolhenlhb-761966.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjftQkgVumzT4wD5YycBzNaHNAQRvjnkjps21g6D4-jyHsjar98JYkTRm_CooY_saqS6PJjThOgnsluOz-bEvkbVLfcwH-X4J_3mujCjyY5R99ccXenYcxzEXCjMe5D89ljo2rXbgC5n2t/s320/ikmnflplolhenlhb-761966.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342604959894514" /></a><br> </p> <p>There were some birds around. These Turkey Vultures were feeding on a dead goose. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90pNeLQDFGuKYJdiEakBmhxVGvik5NZ6wfSag_T172fe6o9c7FfHg7V_sYZ-bNqJirxb54jBhdd_CQzBInpsRg14k1ZQn1k69s3pxzlI8leNHX7TIp20W_iosDMT3Zn2ssCoDiWZvfC3n/s1600/aiddgppnbknhajbl-763171.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90pNeLQDFGuKYJdiEakBmhxVGvik5NZ6wfSag_T172fe6o9c7FfHg7V_sYZ-bNqJirxb54jBhdd_CQzBInpsRg14k1ZQn1k69s3pxzlI8leNHX7TIp20W_iosDMT3Zn2ssCoDiWZvfC3n/s320/aiddgppnbknhajbl-763171.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342611667258194" /></a></p> <p>This is a male black-throated or white-bridled finch:<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYe1Uso_VvSunjgYDTK5lA0pZ11taJvUeasmETQ60eSUBnjDy5QfMrz9L-3etfCFPbwngxUDnO9G4cAAwODfeefYbi1AAIrMzakRX_8FwV15-mEryrG56EJhoXpPsIZkFmWutrkXX7ZCF/s1600/mnaapoefdhggdboi-764201.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYe1Uso_VvSunjgYDTK5lA0pZ11taJvUeasmETQ60eSUBnjDy5QfMrz9L-3etfCFPbwngxUDnO9G4cAAwODfeefYbi1AAIrMzakRX_8FwV15-mEryrG56EJhoXpPsIZkFmWutrkXX7ZCF/s320/mnaapoefdhggdboi-764201.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342613215939538" /></a></p> <p>We are now at sea, heading down towards Signy. Below you can see the ship heading away from the jetty as we left the Falklands:<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvCbprqX4YcBkamvcmWgelNOirTCszJ8_TMpTBjR5yLFCNueUMHZy74k6zAi70MAnz53Uak5-GQ3lPfG_6TI1D2ilc6gKQrH7yTb_q5RG0YkkXricsyoyqBrcgEJes8vd025pjmjgudq-/s1600/mceenjofdpinlpdn-765793.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvCbprqX4YcBkamvcmWgelNOirTCszJ8_TMpTBjR5yLFCNueUMHZy74k6zAi70MAnz53Uak5-GQ3lPfG_6TI1D2ilc6gKQrH7yTb_q5RG0YkkXricsyoyqBrcgEJes8vd025pjmjgudq-/s320/mceenjofdpinlpdn-765793.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342624136287106" /></a></p> <p>The crossing has been largely uneventful, but a little bumpy which makes simple tasks somewhat tricky. It is difficult to sleep when sliding up and down the bunk, and even eating becomes hard when you have to chase your meal around the plate and prevent it from escaping. <br> </p> <p>This afternoon it has calmed down a bit and the journey is becoming more comfortable. It has started to snow and the temperature last time I checked was minus 7.2 degrees centigrade. With 25knot winds, this is starting to feel rather chilly! Good numbers of albatrosses have been following the ship for most of the journey: <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ6UUL0UG4iMo5yWeWJ5JL062ZYCvNlJ_UwEGpSTcyULQDBwg6rcmTPoLH-CzrNh2NKDoDWG-HbY7IVS2JxK1PKeDFiEwm8fBTrZxDSNM31eeL2Jg2QmgFE3_YG5kWPpgQZg2yGsFlj7d/s1600/kpfakmhnopacflpc-766661.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ6UUL0UG4iMo5yWeWJ5JL062ZYCvNlJ_UwEGpSTcyULQDBwg6rcmTPoLH-CzrNh2NKDoDWG-HbY7IVS2JxK1PKeDFiEwm8fBTrZxDSNM31eeL2Jg2QmgFE3_YG5kWPpgQZg2yGsFlj7d/s320/kpfakmhnopacflpc-766661.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342628809484370" /></a></p> <p>They hardly ever flap their wings, instead gliding effortlessly and gracefully along behind the ship with seemingly no effort at all. I think they hope we are a fishing vessel that might throw them something tasty. They are notoriously difficult to get a decent photograph of when standing on the swaying deck of the ship! This was the best I could manage on this occasion: <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUmDNdCj3LxX1FpMLrca_vvIbyPS-EPqSxPsR8X_to8sh481OM_APdwYG3yGhwKFCm-rkHejr2MhiQxuphdzmVfZYkK8ulCrKwnGdHLquVQKItaVdM_Dniava5NZpvVgT13xaoR2X4lxW/s1600/jkghodhgedhjhgdi-767416.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUmDNdCj3LxX1FpMLrca_vvIbyPS-EPqSxPsR8X_to8sh481OM_APdwYG3yGhwKFCm-rkHejr2MhiQxuphdzmVfZYkK8ulCrKwnGdHLquVQKItaVdM_Dniava5NZpvVgT13xaoR2X4lxW/s320/jkghodhgedhjhgdi-767416.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6484342628584044178" /></a></p> <p>We are due into Signy first thing tomorrow morning so if we are lucky we will awake to icebergs and the snowy peaks of the South Orkney Islands (or possibly dense icy fog!). It will then take us about 3 days to get us up and running and ready for the coming season. <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-43654920335756186672017-04-12T19:53:00.001+01:002017-04-12T19:53:50.568+01:00Home Time<p>I will finish my blog this season with a couple of pictures of Weddell seals that never quite fitted into any of my other posts. Weddell seals always seem to look content and I think have to be pretty close to the top of my favourite Antarctic creature list. Not only do they look cute, but they also don't make much noise, nor do they smell, nor do they bite! <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJiIsUkx6WGqdroEI0PyNsZFmAY1lRhSrEXB5rna41_6-SZMsC5HMVKRddOXxb_LAqcDyi-I45nyoV2-MEcix4tVeZUSOve48XSEMnrgKcju1sP1klDLxsgrh8qmMrPLCwy266l5VI3fZ/s1600/fedngeedflakfmdn-730570.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJiIsUkx6WGqdroEI0PyNsZFmAY1lRhSrEXB5rna41_6-SZMsC5HMVKRddOXxb_LAqcDyi-I45nyoV2-MEcix4tVeZUSOve48XSEMnrgKcju1sP1klDLxsgrh8qmMrPLCwy266l5VI3fZ/s320/fedngeedflakfmdn-730570.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408190982062951442" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HZwUyG-TCu76PC5BUByR4i1_au3NqNCC1pNP_Gf3hQ_F6McSHCxkTtqPstKWR5pb5fyS5LGA6EiyGNg6KkX16uRe7K-zaMSwKU4C-uyKgOtqeWMHGEI7DwCWSOU7gm7OoqD8Xy4Oy7N0/s1600/aadgllnngnkeaple-732785.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HZwUyG-TCu76PC5BUByR4i1_au3NqNCC1pNP_Gf3hQ_F6McSHCxkTtqPstKWR5pb5fyS5LGA6EiyGNg6KkX16uRe7K-zaMSwKU4C-uyKgOtqeWMHGEI7DwCWSOU7gm7OoqD8Xy4Oy7N0/s320/aadgllnngnkeaple-732785.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408190997626024482" /></a></p> <p>We spent the last week getting everything packed up and ready to leave. On Sunday 19th March, the RRS Ernest Shackleton appeared, ready to take us home. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcer0GuG0sebxs9WzPZGpwcmuQ8NYMd0FJFjOedOQULe_PzqDBBPRg_6Gfn6fuzCNOzm6sq5zKvBWcUnuVp_HY8Tqf2231maKlNHhn6wkWbhAZPnQNiUWvajCzptJrKPwE_OXtynT1Mqa7/s1600/ddninmehacbcilgc-735398.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcer0GuG0sebxs9WzPZGpwcmuQ8NYMd0FJFjOedOQULe_PzqDBBPRg_6Gfn6fuzCNOzm6sq5zKvBWcUnuVp_HY8Tqf2231maKlNHhn6wkWbhAZPnQNiUWvajCzptJrKPwE_OXtynT1Mqa7/s320/ddninmehacbcilgc-735398.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408191005440165810" /></a></p> <p>Closing down the station was done at a more leisurely pace than usual this year as there were surveyors onboard who wanted to take various site measurements in preparation for a planned new research station to be constructed in a couple of years time. The ship hung around while the surveyors surveyed and we closed the station over a four day period. It can be done in a day and a half if needed, so a lot of sitting around waiting occurred! <br> </p> <p>Eventually everyone was ready to leave and we set sail. Our first engagement once onboard was a rendez vous with the other BAS ship, the RRS James Clark Ross, to transfer a member of the ships crew. <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25R_IFoRbKacEfDTDATlNAYuZmz2YT3tOwrK5YjH4QpHvrnSOBeo_opw30ygHmqPRgdPNCBboz_M0zsxSMkThCDeupLs9mCblXMHBRak8hCDg9ycNbzABJKC_0_sMp9cCGAPuZt63Hhdv/s1600/fgjecgcjncpnlbha-737334.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25R_IFoRbKacEfDTDATlNAYuZmz2YT3tOwrK5YjH4QpHvrnSOBeo_opw30ygHmqPRgdPNCBboz_M0zsxSMkThCDeupLs9mCblXMHBRak8hCDg9ycNbzABJKC_0_sMp9cCGAPuZt63Hhdv/s320/fgjecgcjncpnlbha-737334.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408191012777642978" /></a></p> <p>The JCR is the ship that brought us down in November. It would have made a nice photograph of them both together, but as we were on one of the ships this was not possible. The closest I got was this one of the JCR from my cabin porthole on the Shackleton! <br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KCiAXJNj6HpDmgfzmDUZyZ-Hzo1Jt3l6l-vDmuPq8ZI4ADAn0bQBnEFvAtvYibrrZeSpugS-CmQu19Tgcucb_EbumI0mngc9ITesGUCHdnpzd7X4EVETswJ3V573bQgKh88mkEcc9d7t/s1600/hkelklagfdipjjmf-739266.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KCiAXJNj6HpDmgfzmDUZyZ-Hzo1Jt3l6l-vDmuPq8ZI4ADAn0bQBnEFvAtvYibrrZeSpugS-CmQu19Tgcucb_EbumI0mngc9ITesGUCHdnpzd7X4EVETswJ3V573bQgKh88mkEcc9d7t/s320/hkelklagfdipjjmf-739266.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408191024267337410" /></a></p> <p>It then took us three days to sail back to the Falklands, where we moored just off Stanley. Stanley is where the majority of the Falkland Islanders live and is a colourful little place stretching along the seafront.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmWRk6CSyGanNjefNF5IeRat2gTPTE_96hsFz3HSIP0lCkcuP97P9ev8JmZs8yDI41vlzpPqf26InfM3sLtRQ0X4WI1VEeYV7Dvw31ebp3mfQapcDnQ80DV7w2PyEKGKSAj_xmBwWfgwT/s1600/iamafknoihclileh-741099.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmWRk6CSyGanNjefNF5IeRat2gTPTE_96hsFz3HSIP0lCkcuP97P9ev8JmZs8yDI41vlzpPqf26InfM3sLtRQ0X4WI1VEeYV7Dvw31ebp3mfQapcDnQ80DV7w2PyEKGKSAj_xmBwWfgwT/s320/iamafknoihclileh-741099.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408191032445106370" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt9QPcbDh7FpPKb9K4TyOyMWrkR2BQW7JzTcw21XoWenVo1_ml2NLFHVEVU-LRaMGRB7frI0gTDk59WF8RvidUcvIdXvxhbApyLKA5LfGC2oMLORWuKx7AsFppwT6gRp3p_iEoqHiOCHA/s1600/bgkfeaidepfobeid-742844.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt9QPcbDh7FpPKb9K4TyOyMWrkR2BQW7JzTcw21XoWenVo1_ml2NLFHVEVU-LRaMGRB7frI0gTDk59WF8RvidUcvIdXvxhbApyLKA5LfGC2oMLORWuKx7AsFppwT6gRp3p_iEoqHiOCHA/s320/bgkfeaidepfobeid-742844.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6408191033725263682" /></a></p> <p>We had three days in the Falklands, before flying back to the UK. For the summer I will be once again working at Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve in Yorkshire, which has a blog of its own. If you have enjoyed this blog, it is worth checking back again in November to see if I will be returning for another season. <br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9139297631595496490.post-61385150312204924452017-04-10T10:00:00.001+01:002017-04-10T10:00:14.952+01:00Pictures<p>I am now back in the UK and thought I'd conclude my blog for the season with a couple of pictures. However, having looked through my pictures from the last couple of weeks, I seem to have far too many nice ones, so it looks like there will be two final blog posts instead of one. Here is the first. <br> </p> <p>The final two weeks at Signy gave us some lovely weather. Each day had new interesting clouds and patterns...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTVeREnWZFQqDdht5RPRu0roHQFanHLL5C488Ib7HjfPCZnUVes_9kAUeaffBjOALKEDIDa3NEUX2k4JyAJUv9d85ZyGg7Iag4z7DPGJmsllvU1ifpJexall-82QTG1M55zLSWUve9Ak_/s1600/annkidkdhpkokdbl-714953.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTVeREnWZFQqDdht5RPRu0roHQFanHLL5C488Ib7HjfPCZnUVes_9kAUeaffBjOALKEDIDa3NEUX2k4JyAJUv9d85ZyGg7Iag4z7DPGJmsllvU1ifpJexall-82QTG1M55zLSWUve9Ak_/s320/annkidkdhpkokdbl-714953.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295845117670466" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gvzDp3_d22uwczHciONrHdRVXkaSGyIOcAxSEt2ZTQK_Qt85S4UR5FXa-fbutkutub-4JwNnk2_X-DSmtkqHC7njcBQPJ-VIWtLRihWdO4Isx7NElKnSKg4uBR07R4ra5-_qkZgCjrLF/s1600/hdbkadpadgiphpeh-716154.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gvzDp3_d22uwczHciONrHdRVXkaSGyIOcAxSEt2ZTQK_Qt85S4UR5FXa-fbutkutub-4JwNnk2_X-DSmtkqHC7njcBQPJ-VIWtLRihWdO4Isx7NElKnSKg4uBR07R4ra5-_qkZgCjrLF/s320/hdbkadpadgiphpeh-716154.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295846969186754" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EL3LuVr5FL390AnGfNXzWStJiqCRsIEfylXp5TW70habsIsRRMhrHdZtTUtc6-QSoYMkVdwVGWfmKEL8e5U79OOOVVD6tfDM9ITuW-yuvHNiaJO-bj8mClnTL8GpflWkINxfEEPg8nlL/s1600/bpobmgdmbbebapap-717258.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EL3LuVr5FL390AnGfNXzWStJiqCRsIEfylXp5TW70habsIsRRMhrHdZtTUtc6-QSoYMkVdwVGWfmKEL8e5U79OOOVVD6tfDM9ITuW-yuvHNiaJO-bj8mClnTL8GpflWkINxfEEPg8nlL/s320/bpobmgdmbbebapap-717258.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295850925078050" /></a></p> <p>Each morning had a sunrise...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftN8PfjnTxu99rKsKRoCFU8QzZ9IA2Udqb-ABoQbvIOk7g97mw9H7XWHw7-Izj0ydgJNmyT_1_ymhzlwIOprl5_7uskz8B3_LWVBLdNn-KG9Eu-gb6Equ8Eu-cB7b3cYSU1OvapTcuerf/s1600/nhfgmppagiompndp-718428.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftN8PfjnTxu99rKsKRoCFU8QzZ9IA2Udqb-ABoQbvIOk7g97mw9H7XWHw7-Izj0ydgJNmyT_1_ymhzlwIOprl5_7uskz8B3_LWVBLdNn-KG9Eu-gb6Equ8Eu-cB7b3cYSU1OvapTcuerf/s320/nhfgmppagiompndp-718428.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295856029524626" /></a></p> <p>Each evening the sky turned pink as the sun set...</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxu9mY2kpWRQSCj4M5rxQ5F9T4qU5mnxYjXXanw636qOEoiFYRLjDe1aJL9vdmUvq82_6adPZQnoz-GUClrEqtJ-XoB1c_S0sV2BkuU_fts-vN4gDcAA37NksD4PRfSMETnvFwtse_eLc/s1600/opcecfehdkaeflig-719570.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxu9mY2kpWRQSCj4M5rxQ5F9T4qU5mnxYjXXanw636qOEoiFYRLjDe1aJL9vdmUvq82_6adPZQnoz-GUClrEqtJ-XoB1c_S0sV2BkuU_fts-vN4gDcAA37NksD4PRfSMETnvFwtse_eLc/s320/opcecfehdkaeflig-719570.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295866572152546" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZzSiWy9j8bqdvcoXzKCEI4VzP7HkpxbQKW8mtslOy68lnV_b0l1fvuD7SQBfzjjOJ9M3dMuqrGLpFZ13nD3IfAlphl9YlfCmqFk55qktrsXWn9F0Ri1Cjw46g1ivqZ6sEu0sVhPxON9R/s1600/deojknlpmlnidjcp-720606.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZzSiWy9j8bqdvcoXzKCEI4VzP7HkpxbQKW8mtslOy68lnV_b0l1fvuD7SQBfzjjOJ9M3dMuqrGLpFZ13nD3IfAlphl9YlfCmqFk55qktrsXWn9F0Ri1Cjw46g1ivqZ6sEu0sVhPxON9R/s320/deojknlpmlnidjcp-720606.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295870638953762" /></a></p> <p>Clear skies left behind a starry night. It is only at the very end of the season when the nights really start to draw in that we get to see the stars. And then, only when its clear, which is pretty unusual! Below you can see Orion. I like Orion as it is the only constellation that I have spotted that I recognise both in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere (although there must be more than this one). At Signy, Orion is always low in the sky, and laying on his back. You can see the three main stars of his belt in the picture below, but then you have to turn him upside down to see what is normally seen in the UK.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDny6EChCpzBnDyn2daorVY8NiQSt0sjzC944K-GbAI5c5pK7vJby9BuB7gg2DqROHUTYeH7ci-fYSugRF636B7EN1klZLEpOQEb84BmH8sowOqGwtBI7FCrk0KSVSqpORcZ1C5sMeZqf/s1600/hdcckeinigkipilk-721489.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDny6EChCpzBnDyn2daorVY8NiQSt0sjzC944K-GbAI5c5pK7vJby9BuB7gg2DqROHUTYeH7ci-fYSugRF636B7EN1klZLEpOQEb84BmH8sowOqGwtBI7FCrk0KSVSqpORcZ1C5sMeZqf/s320/hdcckeinigkipilk-721489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295869099569202" /></a></p> <p>In the picture below, towards the centre right you can spot (not very clearly I know) an upside down kite shape. This is the Southern Cross. It can be used with the pair of brighter stars below and to the right of it to work out which direction is South.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b5TEfio91lW1p5hR5mnIP1cgSZw4Ry3r2_ZSG8TlOil4LkeSjKAGh6d3yHXFOlrxZVSX1gLZy9kV-RcB5Nh4nVGM3jST9GlTpQByITjnydYABMSEeBNyIaKnVN1c7Q08zkpALnDMIBbN/s1600/jlekicfmogjondoi-722505.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b5TEfio91lW1p5hR5mnIP1cgSZw4Ry3r2_ZSG8TlOil4LkeSjKAGh6d3yHXFOlrxZVSX1gLZy9kV-RcB5Nh4nVGM3jST9GlTpQByITjnydYABMSEeBNyIaKnVN1c7Q08zkpALnDMIBbN/s320/jlekicfmogjondoi-722505.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295874005154530" /></a></p> <p>Occasionally at Signy it snows what I consider to be "proper" snowflakes. The kind you draw as a child but never really see. It seems to be true, that they are all unique in shape. It would also appear to be true that they are very hard to photograph, so please excuse the quality of these images. The patterns seemed to show better in black and white.<br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbePG-RwC1lz24q6gqK249_2lXu6JC0DZP5PSDT3JLeLvMp6TVzgKy-SJcFyezmcq_gkKvYIG89TGbGlPds0-2SzW-XF-VHRqAmepNm3L_QQ6zEyFTLjrnztA-xsTgFyMQYWDuYfYRvUG/s1600/mpgccpejgfgacgoc-723357.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbePG-RwC1lz24q6gqK249_2lXu6JC0DZP5PSDT3JLeLvMp6TVzgKy-SJcFyezmcq_gkKvYIG89TGbGlPds0-2SzW-XF-VHRqAmepNm3L_QQ6zEyFTLjrnztA-xsTgFyMQYWDuYfYRvUG/s320/mpgccpejgfgacgoc-723357.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295878641686834" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1aZkJecKPHNbuF365E7R0nlGSlFA0zmLZLSgyo4Cv9HLD7U98Mj-VYq8xxgNSJSe_GoEnMjhRYe95fKf9_RK2qORvZlj-P2tCayo_DypQQCEf324H3g0A_RorV8yb5gr95sOHVoVn60Y/s1600/kimkhnmcgjigkjcf-724345.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1aZkJecKPHNbuF365E7R0nlGSlFA0zmLZLSgyo4Cv9HLD7U98Mj-VYq8xxgNSJSe_GoEnMjhRYe95fKf9_RK2qORvZlj-P2tCayo_DypQQCEf324H3g0A_RorV8yb5gr95sOHVoVn60Y/s320/kimkhnmcgjigkjcf-724345.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295882986029938" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituqivob5JNFy0fw1V2KyHan8IvOZeiXvur6_sP7cqP40keuwZY36GpDms_QTpuevIz_vPM4uf70A5UJ0FuArW7Zir3hgoC1HPj4tubvvERd6GyPAuvi9_sSJ_kEodxAZb9UTgDK57htRf/s1600/nleajmolpmbpceeh-725146.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituqivob5JNFy0fw1V2KyHan8IvOZeiXvur6_sP7cqP40keuwZY36GpDms_QTpuevIz_vPM4uf70A5UJ0FuArW7Zir3hgoC1HPj4tubvvERd6GyPAuvi9_sSJ_kEodxAZb9UTgDK57htRf/s320/nleajmolpmbpceeh-725146.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6407295886694860594" /></a></p> <p><br> </p> Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690980067189872979noreply@blogger.com0