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

July 25: Kelp and rocks

Just enjoying the simplicity of colours and shapes of  kelp and rocks on the east beach of the isthmus .



Kelp holdfast. Photo: Jacque Comery



Treble clef kelp Photo: Jacque Comery



Kelp in a rockpool at the waters edge flanked by purple algae. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Swirling veins in a beach cobble Photo: Jacque Comery





June 7: Colours and textures in the rain on West Beach of the Isthmus

A rainy Sunday. Too wet to take out my Olympus so I headed out for a walk with my old Lumix Waterproof DMC-FT2. When it is raining on Macca everything is grey.  The sky, the ground, the ocean.  With my eyes cast down to avoid the horizontal rain, I started to spot all of the little bits of colour the whole way along my walk from the Station to the Razorback at the end of the Isthmus on the west coast, and back along the east coast.  The blurry effects are a combination of raindrops and me licking the lens to try and clear it!
With gumboots full of water and soaking wet I returned home after an hour and a half, smiling at how much colour you can find on  a grey day, if you look in the right places.




Algae. Photo: Jacque Comery

Vertebra. Photo: Jacque Comery

Inside rotting kelp. Photo Jacque Comery

A Skua boules. Photo: Jacque Comery

Algae. Photo: Jacque Comery

Beach pebble. Photo: Jacque Comery

Drift wood. Photo: Jacque Comery

Algae. Photo: Jacque Comery

Top of the fire hydrant marker. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 3: Green Gorge Trip - Day 2: Hut Day

To stay at Green Gorge Hut, is to be transported to another world. This self contained universe is only half way down island, and yet it feels like you are the only inhabitants of the island. Everything you could possibly need for cooking up a hearty meal, is tucked away in the shelves of the kitchen or in "Shangrila" the storage pantry. We have a gas powered marine stove and oven, and a 'fridge' which comprises shelves on the porch.  With an outside temperature of rarely over 4C,  and no scavenging predators, this is the perfect solution.  Endless entertainment resides in the contents of the bookshelves and scratched old CDs compiled by Rangers and visitors past provide some fun surprises in the car stereo system we use to play music.  Short daylight hours and no distraction of internet and electronics offers a wonderful opportunity to sit and chat, day dream and nap.  Oh, wonderful hut life!
The most was made of daylight hours with several trips outside to photograph the Green Gorge locals.  The blustery westerly winds racing down the valley provided the Giant Petrels the perfect amount of offshore wind to extend their huge wings and hover about with ease.  Another posse of curious King Penguins lives here with their fluffy chicks. They gravitate towards you whenever you chose a spot on the beach to sit quietly with the camera. Inherently inquisitive they have no disregard for any attempt to maintain wildlife approach distances.  One silly chick tried to walk back to the hut with me!
Another layer of Macquarie Island revealed, and every new one is equally beautiful and dramatic as the last. How shall I leave here!

Green Gorge Hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

The wonderful Green Gorge Hut is tucked in the tussock at the edge of the beach. Shangrila is to the right, and the RAPS wind generator can be seen behind the hut.  This place probably has the most spectacular porch view that I have had the privilege of enjoying.

Cooking up some hots snacks in the hut galley. Photo: Jacque Comery

Drying socks and gloves over the heater. Photo: Jacque Comery

Relaxing evening in the hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

Hut bread success. Photo: Jacque Comery

Abbey Road King Penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery

 These four penguins marched along the beach with such self assurance and attitude I couldn't help drawing parallel to the Abbey Road Beatles album cover.  Crashing surf, howling winds, battling elephant seals...no problem... we got Penguin attitude.  Move aside strange biped...

Southern Giant Petrel. Photo: Jacque Comery

 I have spent hours trying to capture photos of these beautiful birds.  Awkward and ungainly on land, they are effortlessly elegant on the wing.  Whilst sitting on the beach with my big lens trying to capture these flighty shy creatures in the distance, this bird flew right up, and crash landed  right in front of me. Eventually folded up it's giant wings and sat right on down.  The most wonderful moments are always those that come to you unexpectedly.

Curious posse of King Penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery

Regal King Penguins. Photo: Jacque Comery



Southern Giant Petrel balancing with the wind. Photo: Jacque Comery

White variation of the Southern Giant Petrel. Photo: Jacque Comery

In the dark winter afternoons the white variation of the Southern Giant Petrels are like bright beacons on the beach, whilst their brown counterparts blend into the scenery.  These birds are very clumsy moving around on land, and take great advantage of extending their huge wings for stability, whilst they  prowl about the edge of the penguin colony for any stray chicks to seize.