August 12: Skeleton

 Nothing hangs around long enough to decompose here. This skeleton was not here  yesterday... today it is picked clean. A good meal for someone.

Skeleton on west beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

Skeleton. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 6: Leopard seal

Our first Leopard seal visitor. Just another beautiful creature taking a break...nothing to support the anthropomorphised view of evil and darkness that we humans so readily accept of many of the top order predators.

Leopard seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

Leopard seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

Leopard seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

Leopard seal. Photo: Jacquie Comery

Sleeping leopard seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

Stretching out. Photo: Jacque Comery

Leopard seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

Jacque photographing the leopard seal. Photo: Andrea Turbett

July 13: Snowy Antarctic Terns

The Antarctic Terns were not deterred by snows on station, rather they seemed to take advantage of the excellent camouflage it offered them, whilst they rested up after recent storms. They all sit facing into the wind, nestled down into hollows in the snow. We more often see them flying about, and they are most elegant in flight, zipping over the tops of the cresting waves. They are fast and very manoeuvrable, so I have found it a rare pleasure to be able to photograph them whilst they sit still!
When these guys are in breeding plumage their little black caps will be all filled in. New caps to impress the ladies!


Ready for take off. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Antarctic Terns on the snowy beach front. Photo: Jacque Comery

Facing into the wind, and acting invisible. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 8: Footprints in the snow...

Gentoo Penguin footprints in the snow. 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!

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 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 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 21: Midwinter Day on Macca

The shortest day of the year was celebrated  with respect to old traditions and a few fun activities of our own.
The traditional midwinter swim was first up with a swim on both sides of the Isthmus.  Cold is an epic understatement. This was followed by recovery in the sauna and spa, and an afternoon Macca multisports olympics. In the evening we enjoyed a mid-winter cocktail, and a spectacular gift of a 13 course degustation menu from Chef Justin.
We welcome the arrival of longer days to give us more daylight in which to explore our island home.



All set for the midwinter swim in sub-zero temperatures. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Must run faster....can't feel legs..  Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

 

The east coast. Photo: Mark Baker

 

Post swim hot tub. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Shooting hoops at the Macca Olympics. Photo Rich Youd

Recording midwinter.: Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

68th ANARE crew. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn



June 14: My first aurora shots

Finally, I managed to capture some aurora shots.  It has taken many nights of experimenting with camera settings, glove combinations, and running about the Isthmus in my PJs and Carhartts avoiding stealth seals. 
Thanks Justin C for the endless tips and encouragement! And to all those who ring the aurora hotline when the sky starts dancing...

Aurora over west beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora above the LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

Reds and greens behind the clouds. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora over west beach and the plateau. Photo: Jacque Comery