This week at Mawson we reflect on summer, find out what is happening at Béchervaise Island and check where the ship is.

Mawson summer reflections

It is near the end of our time here at Mawson and on reflection, we have had a glorious summer. Pete has managed to capture that feeling in some of these photos that he has taken around Mawson during January…

Ice around the shore melting and forming icicles
A view along West Arm with the explosives hut visible to the left and the spectacular ice cliffs along the coast to the west.
Two emperor penguins neally through the moult stand regally in the afternoon sun at Mawson station
Mawson station on a perfect summer’s afternoon, the reflection of station shown in the calm waters of Horseshoe harbour
The ice cliffs near station, their textured surface well defined in the afternoon light
An Adelie penguin on the rocky shore near Mawson with the ice cliffs in the background
An Adelie penguin on the shore before heading off into the water
Adelie penguin swimming away from the shore near Mawson
A curious Weddell seal with lying on the ice with open water and the ice cliffs behind
A Weddell seal investigates expeditioners on the shore at Mawson
Panorama of the station from West Arm
A melt stream conduit — ice has been carved out by the melt water formed during the warmest part of the summer
A running melt stream over rock at the height of summer
Pete Hargreaves, the photographer — thanks for some great shots!

Final Béche update

Out on Béchervaise Island this week, Matt and Lisa finished off the last of their extensive work program on the Adélie penguins in the study colony and did the final check of snow petrel nests before beginning the arduous task of packing up all their personal gear and scientific samples ready for uplift by the ship when they finally manage to get into the harbour and send an IRB. Matt tells me that with their work completed, they are ready for a shower and some of Gav’s cooking.

During resupply the two researchers hope that the ship will be able to spare watercraft operators using IRBs to ferry them out to the islands where cameras are installed near colonies to do a final download and service before winter. It will also give them a chance to see how some of the colonies where breeding pairs were counted earlier in the season have now fared at the other end of the season.

Two Adelie penguin chicks that have nearly fledged out their adult plumage.
Two penguin researchers on Bechervise Island wearing full PPE while tagging Adelie penguins chicks
A fluffy snow petrel chick beginning to show adult plumage around the head

Where is Wally?

It is that time of year when the ship is due to resupply us here at Mawson, and typically the fantastic weather that we have enjoyed throughout the summer has come suddenly to an end.

The clouds have rolled in and the wind has picked up as the ship has slowly made its way here over the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean.

With even more bad weather forecast, we don’t expect the ship to come into the harbour before Saturday at least. By all accounts (huge waves = no sleep) — I would rather be here than there!

If you want to follow the RV Aurora Australis into Mawson you can visit the shipcam online.

The voyage track so far for the RV Aurora Australis
A Google track showing the track over the past few days through the storm off Mawson
A recent webcam picture of the bow of the AA in heavy seas off Mawson
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