Field familiarisations start for the new winterers, our first aurora over station and a visit to see the king penguin chicks, whilst our furry neighbour still visits us.

Field familiarisations start

For all new expeditioners to the island (or if one hasn’t been here within the last three years) we need to do an island familiarisation trip to follow up on our pre-departure field & SAR (search and rescue) training.

Ranger-in-charge Chris Howard is trip leader for these outings as he knows the island well, having spent two years here consecutively with ANARE 66 & 67 and now eagerly back for more. These trips aim to give us our first introduction to the island terrain and plateau weather, as well as inductions to the use of field huts. It is also important for us all to be field familiar in case we have a SAR situation.

Group one were out last week — Dr Helen, Met Tech/Obs George and Electrician Ben. Please see separate story for George’s pics.

Group two are out this week — Snr Met Observer Alison, Plumber Glenn and Chef Rocket. Yes, somehow we manage to survive here on station without Rocket (full disclosure: he has cooked ahead and all we have to do is reheat…)

Four people stand in the main square of station kitted out in wet weather clothing and with field packs ready to leave on their familiarisation trip
Rear view of four people heading out of Market Square
Four people kitted out in waterproofs and with packs and walking sticks smile for the camera in Market Square
Four figures with packs on are small in the vista of station and the plateau in background

Out in the field — pics from George

Here’s a selection of George’s pictures from the walk — captions are his.

Two people sitting in all the wet weather gear in the lee of a hill side trying to stay out of the weather
An aurora in the sky over the Bauer Bay hut
The ‘smartie’ shaped Brothers Point Hut sitting on the hillside
Looking along a gap through a rock labyrinth
Expeditioner crouching on rocky beach, watching a nearby group of king penguins
A man sitting on his field pack as two king penguins approach inquisitively
A mother fur seal and her young one on the beach
Three people resting on ground that demonstrates the post eradication regrowth of Macquarie Island cabbage and tussock.
Two elephant seals playing in the water, showing off their big brown eyes

Our furry neighbour is still around

Our fur seal neighbour is still coming and going from his resting place as he (or she) pleases. Very ninja though — none of us have yet to see him/her actually on the move.

Close up of sleepy fur seal face
Fur seal looking up at photographer

Aurora over station

We had perfect conditions the other night for a beautiful green aurora that danced all across the sky. George was organised enough (and talented enough) to have his camera out and ready. I could only stare and wonder.

Aurora in the sky and elephant seal in the foreground as the moon sets over West Beach
Aurora dancing in the sky over the dome of the ANARESAT
Aurora above a parked LARC vehicle, with the green beam of the LIDAR clearly visible through the middle
Landscape of station buildings with aurora in the sky above

King penguin chicks

We are lucky enough to have a king penguin colony living down the beach in extended station limits. They are still tending to their chicks, who have a lot of moulting ahead of them still…

Brown, fluffy king chicks on the hill — one being fed by its much more colourful parent.
A group of fluffy, mud-brown penguin chicks
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