October 3: The Storm

At 0515hrs on Saturday, most of us were awoken by the first strong gust of the storm. The buildings shaken so hard it was difficult to tell if it were the wind or an earth tremor! The weather due to build throughout the morning had arrived early. Throughout the morning gusts exceeded 60 kts, then 70 kts, topping out with a gust of 83 kts around 0900hrs. Around lunch time the seas began to build, lashing the west coast beaches with walls of whitewater. Elephant seal harems huddled on the highest ground they could find, but were soon at the mercy of the sea. Even two hours before high tide waves were washing over the Isthmus with such force that entire groups of seals, pups and even the big 3 tonne Beachmasters were washed away. Our concrete breakwater was washed out into the bay and the Isthmus slowly eroded under the relentless force of scouring surf. One large set washed through the Green Store and through market square, draining down between Cumpston’s Cottage and the Mess. 

Waves breaking over the elephant seal harems. Photo: Justin Chambers

Seal harems being smashed by the high seas. Photo: Justin Chambers

Seals on the Isthmus during storm. Photo: Jstin Chambers

Waves breaking over the isthmus. Photo: Justin Chambers

Storm surge washes over the Isthmus all day. Photo: Justin Chambers

September 30: Seal harems on the east coast

The elephant seal harems are growing on the beaches around the isthmus. Each harem has a Beachmaster, a big male, and a posse of female seals who chose the harem that they wish to join. The Beachmasters then battle it out to take control of each others harems, winning the rights to mate with  all of the females. First though the females need to finish having their pups. As the harems get bigger the  Beachmaster has a greater area to cover to ward off sneaky suitors. If a rival male sneaks up on the harem, the Beachmaster will often charge through the seals, crushing females and pups to ward off the challenger. These battles can be a fight to the death, and the sight of two 3 tonne seals smashing against each other with tremendous force is a sight to behold.
To perch up in the tussock and watch this unfold has been likened to watching a soap opera of sorts.

Elephant seal harem on east beach. Photo: Justin Chambers

Seal harem on east beach. Photo: Justin Chambers

Beachmaster and his harem. Photo: Justin Chambers

Thanks for the photos jj.

September 10: First seal pup on the Isthmus!

There has been a competition running on Station to guess the date of the birth of the  first elephant seal pup of the season. Our Station Mechanic was the eagle eye who spotted this little fella on the morning of the 10th September. The Station Electrician took the prize!
The elephant seal pups have a black furry coat which is all skin rolls waiting to grow into.  This they achieve rapidly as soon as they start feeding.
They are quite feeble and stay close to the cow seal, making the most amusing barking sounds, to call out to their mother. Skuas lurk all around, at first to feed on the placenta after the birth and then to take advantage of any weak pups who stray too far from their mother.
The pups have imploring big wet eyes that are a most endearing sight.

Thanks to Lionel Whitehorn our Station Mechanic for the great pictures.

** I managed to fall off a tussock mound and hurt my foot, and can't walk around for a few weeks.  I hope you enjoy the guest photography!! Thanks to everyone who offered to contribute so I could keep the Blog going!**

First seal pup on the Isthmus for 2015. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Elephant seal cow and pup. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Skuas keeping a close watch on the prospect of a meal. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Elephant seal mother and pup. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

August 19: Morning light



Morning sun on the plateau. Photo: Jacque Comery

View to The Nuggets.  Photo: Jacque Comery

August 17: Elephant seal battles

Elephant seals. Photo: Jacque Comery

Elephant seals. Photo: Jacque Comery

Elephant seals. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 16: Gentoo penguins



Beautiful sleek Gentoo. Photo: Jacque Comery

Gentoo penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery

Gentoo penguin. Photo: Jacque Comery





Roosting Gentoo penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 4: Attempted hike to Davis Point

Andrea (our Ranger in Charge) and I planned a trip to Davis Point Hut on the west coast, to collect marine debris and celebrate Andrea's birthday. Faced with an island blanketed in heavy snow from yesterdays blizzard we set out. We punched up the Doctors Track in hip and sometimes waist deep heavy snow. We took turns breaking track swapping every few minutes. The snow was densely packed and heavy like half set cement. When we made it to the top the drifts over the track were so deep we realised that without snowshoes we just were not going to get through... we enjoyed the view, and the much faster trip down, and headed back to VJM, a little defeated, but still pretty chuffed that we even made it to the top of Doctors.

View of station and north head. Photo: Jacque Comery

Snow drifts over the track. Photo: Jacque Comery

View to northwest, the plateau looks like a big melting ice cream. Photo: Jacque Comery

The view past the Razorback towards the Isthmus. Photo: Jacque Comery

The circular track in the foreground is the IPS installation which is no longer there. We lost the mast in the 85 knot wind storm last week.

 

Andrea pushing up through thigh deep snow. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Me blending in with the track markers. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Jacque and Andrea. We made it to the top at least! Photo: Andrea Turbett.

August 2: Kelp Gulls

With big swells whipping up the seas over the previous days, these kelp gulls were hanging about making the most of the fishing close to the shore.


Kelp gulls. Photo: Jacque Comery

Kelp Gulls. Photo: Jacque Comery

Juvenile gull stretching its wings. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 1: Fishing Antarctic Terns

Watching these skilful little fishers, dart fleetingly between the breaking swells is a joy.



Darting before the breaking waves. Photo: Jacque Comery



Juvenile Tern. Photo: Jacque Comery

Looking for fish. Photo: Jacque Comery



In flight: Photo: Jacque Comery

July 30: The eye

I have no idea what this is or was used for. The steel eye is drilled into rock located to the south of the Isthmus on the eastern shore near landing beach. It may have been related to resupply activities or boating. If I find out more I will provide an update.  It makes for an interesting picture though.



Steel eye. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 29: Rock stack landing pad

Kelp gulls showing off their aviator skills landing on  a rock stack in big seas and gale force winds.



Landing just in time. Photo: Jacque Comery



Precision landing. Photo: Jacque Comery

Taking a break before take off. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Resting between waves. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 27: Aurora

A call of aurora went out over the telephone system from the meterorogical observer on night shift. I bolted outside to witness a most spectacular aurora that crescendoed and disappeared all within 10 minutes. Curtains of purple and red showered down overhead, before the whole thing seemingly flew across the sky and disappeared. It was as if it were a living creature, just passing by to taunt us only to vanish before we fully appreciated it's beauty. It pulsated to the extent that the exposure time required for each photo made it impossible to keep up with capturing the rapidly unfolding scene.

Aurora looking out to The Nuggets to the south-east. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora over Hamshack Hill. Photo: Jacque Comery

View to the west over the containers. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora over the LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

View east from the Isthmus. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora over the LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora and Gentoo Penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery

Thanks to all of the penguins that stayed nice and still for my long exposures!

July 26: Little things, bold colours

In the often grey scale world that we live in down here, the bursts of colour afforded by nature are bold and demanding of the attention.

Flamboyantly coloured algae held fast to a rock. Photo: Jacque Comery

Purple Algae. Photo: Jacque Comery

Starfish high and dry. Photo: Jacque Comery

Algae in the pebbles. Photo: Jacque Comery

Algae on the rocks Photos: Jacque Comery