June 30: Wild weather

After three days in a row of winds exceeding 55 kts, today we received 73 kts in the early hours.  Swells of 8 metres were predicted, however by the time they were standing up approaching the shoreline, they were such behemoth walls of water that it was difficult to ascertain their size.
There is a large rock (small island) to the west of the beach, at least 20 metres in height, and the waves were crashing over it, sending plumes of spray into the sky.
The waves pounded the beach all night, and in the morning light we discovered out Station Isthmus cut in half. The sea was flowing from west to east with the largest of the waves in the set.
The numerous elephant seals who had taken refuge on the beach were not bothered at all, and continued to wrestle, belch and snort despite the water washing all around them.
The LARCS, our Station centurions that stand guard facing the west, stayed in place or rather they held the helipads that they sit on in place!
Kelp was thrown up around the very edges of the buildings, and water washed into the store building, and under the bunkroom building.
Over the past few days the winds have blown the boat shed door off and the Ionspheric Prediction Service mast (approx. 25 m) collapsed. Luckily, apart from a whole lot of erosion and mess, the remainder of Station suffered no further infrastructure losses.



A wave surges over the Isthmus from west to east. Photo: Jacque Comery

The seals don't seem to mind the new river. Photo: Jacque Comery

Kelp dumped right up behind our buildings. Photo: Jacque Comery

Waves surging up to the buildings. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 29: Heritage artefacts and beach treasure

We have had high winds and big swells overnight, and the Ranger-in-Charge, was headed out to check on some of the heritage sites that are now particularly close to the waters edge. I jumped at the chance to tag along for a brisk walk down the west beach.
In 1917 under the oversight of Joseph Hatch, an Iron Boiler and Digester were established to produce oil from the blubber of seals harvested on the west coast. It was one of the smallest production sites, and it remained in operation for two years until 1919 ,when all sealing operations at Macquarie Island ceased.

In 2003, the boiler and digester was toppled in a huge storm and moved 50 metres from its original site. Following heavy rainfall in 2013 a landslide partially buried the site.  The digester now sits close to the waters edge and with wave action continually changing the shape of the beach, this heritage site remains in  danger of suffering further impact.

The Rangers here on Macca have a big challenge in maintaining these historical sites. An extremely corrosive sub-Antarctic environment takes it's toll on steel and iron work, and when artefacts are placed under threat by natural occurrences, there is limited access for machinery at most sites to assist in any recovery.

On the way back to Station we found an old metal flanged piece of pipe. On closer inspection it was filled with molten glass, and a partially intact ornate old bottle.  It has possibly been uncovered by the recent seas moving sand around the beach or has been dumped on the shore by the big surf.  With all of our strength the two of us could not lift it to carry it up above the wave line, so we photographed it, and took note of it's location to return with a GPS  to record its exact location.  It may be remnant from earlier station days, or even be debris from one of the many ships that were wrecked along this coast. Such fun to find treasure.
 
 


Digester on West Beach. Photo: Jacque Comery




The Digester and Boiler taken in 1975 by Archeologist E.A. Mitchener

Digester on the beach. Photo: Jacque Comery



The boiler. Photo: Jacque Comery



Treasure found on West Beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Jacque checking out the glass inside the pipe. Photo: Andrea Turbett



Ornate glass inside the pipe that we found on West Beach. Photo: Andrea Turbett

June 28: Window cleaning....even in paradise we do chores

I have probably the best view I will ever have in my life, from my bedroom and office windows.  However so much salt blows in on the wind that I can't see.
Today I took advantage of belting westerly winds to clean my leeward easterly facing windows. Now when the Orcas turn up I will actually be able to see them playing in my front garden in the Garden Cove. Yah!



Window cleaning my way to a world class view.  Photo: Andrea Turbett

June 27: Hydro update - we have produce!

Hydro success continues!  The hydro shed is smelling glorious.  The smell of the tomato plants transports me straight  to a summer garden.
Until now we had grown some really nice tomato bushes, alas they are not very edible.  Finally I spotted little tomato fruits on them.
The cucumbers are also finally producing, after we started putting in a much more intensive effort with the paint brush pollinating.
This week the chillies also finally fruited, and the celery is getting taller, and maybe almost ready for picking, as we don't think it will ever turn out like market bought celery.
Ready for harvest as we need it is rocket (which appeared at Midwinters Feast), pak choy is close, and basil which is always a nice addition to the kitchen.
Last week we seeded silverbeet, lots of new lettuce types, and eggplant.
Not bad considering that our hydro supplies didn't arrive so we are pretty much just improvising!
Big shout out to my hydro partner Louise!



Celery crop. Photo: Jacque Comery

The greenery of the hydroponics shed. Photo: Jacque Comery

Chillis. Photo: Jacque Comery

Chilli bloom. Photo: Jacque Comery

Tomatoes! Photo: Jacque Comery

Curly cucumber. Photo: Jacque Comery

Burgeoning cucumber. Photo: Jacque Comery



Cucumber ready for harvest. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 26: A fishy visitor

This morning this guy showed up in Garden Cove just behind Station.
After much perusing of books and the internet, our best guess is that it might be Notothenia coriiceps, or Black Cod.  It may have been around 650 mm long.
It is typically found in the Southern Ocean: probably circum-Antarctic on the continental shelf. So far, known from the western Ross Sea, Balleny islands, Adélie Land, Antarctic Peninsula and associated islands, islands of the Scotia Arc to South Georgia, Weddell Sea, Bouvet, and the sub-Antarctic islands of the Indian Ocean sector. Ref: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/4702
Either way it has very pretty yellow fish lips.
Any species ID tips are welcome.....

Fish head in Garden Cove. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 25: Feathers

Quill in the snow. Photo: Jacque Comery



Lone feather. Photo: Jacque Comery



 

 

Colours of the beach on a snowy day. Photo: Jacque Comery



June 24: Cleaning the boats.

Awaking to a gentle 6 knot breeze, today was declared boat cleaning day. We stripped down the IRBs, removed the speed tubes and flushed all of the stones out of them, repacked the survival bags, and gave them a good once over so that finally we are ready to hit the water, when we get some boating weather.


Inflating the IRB. Photo: Andrea Turbett

 

Working fast to beat the rain. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Hosing out the IRB. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Installing the floor. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Locking in the floor. Photo: Andrea Turbett

June 23: Low flying birds

On windy days (so essentially everyday!), the sea birds perform low flying maneuverers over Station. You feel as if by stretching up high enough you could touch their bellies on the way past.
Whilst flying into the headwind slows them down, they are still evading my lens! At least I have 9 months to practice.

Kelp Gull on West Beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

Antarctic Tern on West Beach. Photo: Jacque Comery



A Giant Petrel flies low over the Isthmus. Photo: Jacque Comery





Feisty Giant Petrel in flight. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 22: Elephant seal dreaming that she is a sea otter

Dreaming in the kelp. Photo: Jacque Comery