365 @ 54°30' South

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

April 21: Gentoo Penguins

Gentoo Penguin on Station. Photo: Jacque Comery

Gentoo penguins hanging out at the rear of station. No one told them that they are standing in the Magnetic Quite Zone though! Photo: Jacque Comery

These guys are seen everyday waddling around between our buildings, with their silly orange feet. We just have to be patient and give way to them when we are trying to get work done.

April 20: Westerly beach scene at dusk.

Looking west from the isthmus out to Handspike Point. Photo: Jacque Comery

This arvo I went for a walk kind of late in the day and only had my old HTC phone in my pocket. ( No phones signal here but I use it as an alarm and a handy camera!)
Snapped this moody shot of dusk with a storm rolling in from the west.
On the far left is a posse of Gentoo penguins hanging out on the beach.

April 19: An unexpected guest arrives....

I was busy trying to reconnect my conference phone, and had my head in the corner and heard a noise over the usual roaring wind ruckus. When I heard footsteps on the deck this was NOT who I was expecting. This guy hung out for a while then eventually tried biting the glass for a bit, then gave up and hopped back down the stairs. He lurks in the tall grass near station and chases any body passing.... and yes, despite those melt your heart big brown eyes... these critters bite!

Fur Seal visitor on the deck of my office. Photo Jacque Comery

Are you going to let me in? Photo: Jacque Comery

Sunday, 3 May 2015

April 18: Farewell Aurora.....and then there was 13...

Setting off flares to farewell the Aurora Australis on her return to Australia. Photo: Rich Youd.

Smiling at the excitement of our season finally beginning, or because I just let off my first parachute flare? Perhaps both. Photo: Rich Youd

68th ANARE team farewelling the Aurora with customary flare show. Photo: Rich Youd.

It is an ANARE tradition that when the ship is ready to leave they will do a 'sail past' North Head, blast their horn, and at night put on a light show with their search lights. In return we blast off any out of date flares in a little fireworks display. (Being so far from any other shipping, no one else will even see our flares...so boating friends don't be alarmed!)

We gave the AA a fitting send off in gusting winds and driving rain, and a light show that was worth braving the weather for.

April 17: There is how much cargo left?!

The gorgeous AGSO Jenn and I counting cargo loads. Photo: Rich Youd.

Four helicopters, 3 amphibious vehicles, two tractors and hundreds of pallets of cargo from the ship and down island, and passengers being shuttled all over the place. Jenn our AGSO ( Aviation Ground Support Officer) made keeping track of this look effortless. (Thanks Jenn!!!)
(Thanks Rich Youd for another great photo.)

April 16th: Heli ops are go

Macquarie Island has no port or harbour. All of our supplies are brought in by Helicopter or boat. When the swells are too high to land small water craft, the helicopters are our sole means of bringing in our years worth of precious supplies, and of taking out the RTA (Return to Australia) loads of landfill, disused equipment and rubbish back to the ship.
Watching these guys maneuverer their aircraft on and off the narrow isthmus and pitching and rolling ship deck is a sight to behold. Much respect.