Long – 64’W 03.68
We’ve arrived at Palmer station – which means internet access and so I can post up some photos from the last few days! Think I’ve just about got the email blog posting all okay – will promise to write more when we get underway again.
Last few days have been pretty mundane, long transit this one and it’ll be good to get the science going in 2 days. Yesterday was a welcome change though – the day started at 6am when Polish scientists from Bellinghausen base came out to collect some boxes we’d carried over for them. All loaded smoothly onto their zodiac, though I was shocked at how much went in there!
Everything including the toilet (2 composting toilets in the card boxes) - the Polish picking up their gear...
Next we moved on to Copa field station – this is a US field station of just 6 people that is set up to monitor the penguin population and their associated predators (skuas etc). We had a bunch of supplies to drop off and as a welcome treat (and bonus for carrying gas tanks and boxes) we got to walk around the base and island for a couple of hours, look at the penguins and stretch legs, though the weather was a little damp, it was really nice to get out. More penguins than I’d seen last time, there were Gentoos and Chin straps, and lots of skuas flying overhead. Lots of babies too which were oh so cute!
Copa Field Station - never thought I would see a green lawn in the Antarctic but there we go.....
Feeling like kids on a field trip....Stian herding scientists off the Zodiacs to take our taste of the shore and penguins....
Gentoos (young and old) with the Gould in the background....
Feed me mamma......
Chin-strap penguins looking all dignified on the rocks.......they don't hang out with the likes of the Gentoos.......
Post-field-trip - Angelo demonstrating how we had to disinfect our boots after stepping on shore - to stop the spread of flora and fauna between islands..Tonight we are at Palmer, then tomorrow we head out and are finally on our way to get the science started. Not sure what day of the week it is anymore, but we’ll be on station day after tomorrow at around 3pm…..
1 comment:
awesome! seems so funny after looking at my parents' photos of the same place. REALLY missing you guys a lot. crazy to be able to easily pick S out of the orange and carhardt crowd.
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