September 23: When your admirer is bigger than you....

There's no getting away from a male elephant seal that wants some lovin'.

These shots are from Sandy Bay just to the north of Brothers Point. You can see the red googie shape of Brother's Point Hut in the rear.
Thanks Ranger Andrea for the great pics.

Beachmaster and seal at Sandy Bay. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Beachmaster with his captured seall at Sandy Bay. Photo: Andrea Turbett

July 19: Leaving Brother's Point, headed to Station

After a lovely last night, of listening to the wind whistle around the hut, I decided to make an early break for Station, to try and get  up and over the plateau before mid morning winds were expected to  build to around 40 kts (50 kts up on top).
I set off at around 0700hrs, in the very early dawn light and snow. The walk in flat light was pretty, and the snow got deeper as I walked, with some of the drifts getting up around mid-thigh depth at times. The fog closed on just as I got to the last part of my walk, making navigation a challenge, especially as most of the track markers were blown over! A fun surprise was finding penguin footprints up the track almost all the wat up to the plateau. How (and why) those little guys waddle all that way in snow up steep hills on their little short legs is a mystery to me.
A wonderful 3 day solo trip, exploring this beautiful and wild place.



The RAPS unit at sunrise, with The Nuggets in the rear. Photo: Jacque Comery



A snow flurry on the beach, as I am leaving the hut. Photo: Jacque Comery



Giant Petrel footprints in the snow. Photo: Jacque Comery



Sandy Bay Track looking back to Sandy Bay. Photo: Jacque Comery



Sandy Bay track looking up towards 4-Ways track junction. Photo: Jacque Comery

Snow drifts hiding the track markers. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

On the trail home. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 10: Another morning at Sandy Bay

Morning yoga? Photo: Jacque Comery



Young elephant seal wallowing in Finch Creek. Photo: Jacque Comery

Penguin rockpool. Photo: Jacque Comery

Morning stroll. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 9: Sandy Bay King Penguins

The King Penguin colony at Sandy Bay is about a 3 hour walk from Station over the plateau, or about 5 hours around the coast.  The coast route is slower on account of moving across rougher terrain, rocks and through the Poa wallows. By the time I arrived at the colony I was already a little chilly, and discovered I had left my spare batteries behind, so just got a few quick pics in.
The King Penguin chicks are huge compared to the size of their parents. Their big brown fluffy feather coats give them an adorable appearance, and they waddle around the colony seemingly quite oblivious to dangers all around. They are especially vulnerable to being taken by the Giant Petrels and Skuas who lurk in and around the colony awaiting an opportunity to pluck a chick from the group.  When a chick gets dragged off it creates quite a kerfuffle, but none of the adults really comes to the chicks aid.
The old hut pictured was used by the penguin researchers in times past.  These days the island is slowly reclaiming it.


Penguin chicks at old Sandy Bay hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

Southern Giant Petrel making a meal of a chick. Photo: Jacque Comery

Sandy Bay. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Picked clean. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

King penguins and chicks. Photo: Jacque Comery

April 28: East coast walk back to Station

A beautiful day to finish a three day hike with. Snow on the hills, and penguins, elephant seals and fur seals at every turn.

Jacque and Anna walking past the King Penguin colony at Sandy Bay. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Jac and Anna and the Nuggests in the distance. Photo: Andrea Turbett