365 @ 54°30' South: 2015-07-05

Monday, 6 July 2015

June 6: Not who I was expecting at the front door...

Upon reflection if I could chose from all of the uninvited visitors that I've ever had call upon my doorstep, I'd chose this guy hands down. He had no message to preach, nothing to sell, and no donation to seek... in fact I am not entirely sure if he knew what exactly he was even doing on my doorstep, or that it even was a doorstep!

Elephant seal on my doorstep. Photo: Jacque Comery

I really think he wants to come in!. Photo: Jacque Comery

Sunday, 5 July 2015

July 5: White snow and black skies

Leaving Bauer Bay hut early this morning, I found myself a lone figure moving through a beautiful monochrome landscape. The light changed by the minute, casting a new filter upon the landscape faster than I could appreciate the previous one. If light be a costume, Macquarie Island wears it well.

Snowy Bauer Bay morning. Photo: Jacque Comery

Beach ball. Photo: Jacque Comery

First view of the plateau weather. Photo: Jacque Comery

Frozen Island Lake. Photo: Jacque Comery

Sun breaking through. Photo: Jacque Comery

Stormy skies. Photo: Jacque Comery

Almost home. The last section of the Doctor's Track. Photo: Jacque Comery

This post of beautiful scenery is dedicated to my Aunty Fran.

July 4: Memorials and more marine debris

Today is the anniversary of the death of Charles Scoble on the posthumously named Scoble Lake. Mr Scoble broke through the ice on the lake whilst skiing in 1948. I decided to go and pay my respects on behalf of the 68th ANARE, on this suitably icy and cold day.
Having left so much marine debris uncollected at Bauer Bay, I further decided to walk on to Bauer Bay again and spend my weekend completing the beach clean up solo.
I arrived at Scoble Lake in a snow storm, to find the Lake partially frozen. Had it looked like this in 1948 I doubt that the party would have attempted a crossing.
Onwards to Bauer Bay, and I embarked on the 'treasure' collecting immediately to make the most of the light. Another 215 lengths of green string, 60 plastic fragments and 12 bottles later, I prepared a dinner of miso soup, cheese and pickled vegies, had a read of my book, practiced some Spanish did my Sched with VJM and dried my gear. All cosy in the hut, I was asleep by 1930hrs.

Charles Scoble memorial. Photo: Jacque Comery

Scoble plaque. Photo: Jacque Comery

First view of Bauer Bay. Photo: Jacque Comery

About to drop down into Bauer Bay. Hut is centre of frame. Photo. :Jacque Comery

Footprints on the beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

Plastics from Bauer Bay. Photo: Jacque Comery

Green string. Photo: Jacque Comery

Marine debris. Photo: Jacque Comery

Hooray for hut dinners. Photo: Jacque Comery

Drying off my gear. Photo: Jacque Comery

Tucked in for the night. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 3: Antarctic Terns!

Antarctic Terns, Sterna vittata are one of the breeding species that we have here at Macquarie Island.

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/wildlife/animals/flying-birds/antarctic-tern

Antarctic Terns. Photo: Jacque Comery

Photographing the Terns. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Take off. Photo: Jacque Comery

Juvenile plumage. Photo: Jacque Comery

Antarctic Tern. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 2: Bauer Bay to Station via the Northern Featherbed Special Management Area

Today rather than return to Station via the plateau and retrace our steps we thought we'd go around the west coast and see if we could collect some more storm debris. This route crosses over the breeding grounds of the Giant Petrels, and so is considered a Special Management Area (SMA). The access to the SMA ends at the end of July, so it was wonderful to experience this part of the coastline, especially as there was little wildlife to disturb. We were still investigated closely from the air by a number of Giant Petrels squawking like pterodactyls, who call this part of the island their home.
We picked up plastic bottles, fishing marker buoys, another 130 pieces of green string, and many pieces of rope.
We carried what we could, and the rest, especially the buoys were left at caches along the way for collection at resupply when we can get a helicopter.
We took a small detour to visit Eagle Cave where the survivors of a shipwreck once spent an entire year before being rescued!
It was a great day of walking along beaches and the featherbed, a floating peat and moss bog that bounces up and down as you walk on it. We had a few near bogging events with both Andrea and I stuck up to our knees a few times.
We arrived back on Station tired, but no too late to tuck into hot soup and shortbread. (Thanks Chef!)A huge thanks to Ranger Andrea Turbett, for showing me this part of the island, and allowing me to join in on the marine debris action. A great day.

A fishing buoy and piece of boat that was washed up. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Taking photos at Eagle Cave. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Looking towards home. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Thanks so much for the pics Andrea (Turbo) Turbett!

July 1: Marine debris survey at Bauer Bay

This morning I headed out with Ranger-in-Charge, Andrea Turbett to Bauer Bay on the west coast to assist with the monthly Marine Debris Survey. The route to Bauer Bay takes us up onto the Plateau via the Doctors Track and then over onto the Island Lake Track (the ILT), a fast and easily navigable route, to drop down into Bauer Bay. The lakes were frozen, and the entire landscape was a picturesque blending of shades of grey. We danced over the icy track, and arrived at the hut around lunchtime. After dropping our packs at the hut and taking on board some hot blackcurrant juice,(known here as BCJ), we hit the beach, buckets in hand.
We were most excited to see what had washed ashore in the big seas. As well as loads of kelp our haul included approximately 10 plastic bottles, 60 pieces of hard plastic, 40 bits of rope, and 165 pieces of 'green string'.
The green string has been washing ashore at Macquarie Island and a number of other sub-Antarctic islands, and is thought to be used in long line fishing for Patagonian Toothfish.
One exciting find was a fine piece of plastic which carried text with a please return if found instruction. The return address was NIWA in New Zealand.
We searched until dark only covering a small portion of the beach, such was the amount of debris. We counted weighed and photographed our load. Pre-dinner conversation was dominated by brainstorming what NIWA was and who would possibly expect such a small piece of plastic to be found, let alone returned!
We are such a small speck in the remote southern ocean, and yet still plastic lands upon our shores everyday.
After cooking a dinner of pasta and butterscotch pudding, and completing our nightly Sched with VJM (the Station), we settled in for the night, happy with our efforts.