1st December
Although it's not been too long since I
last updated quite a lot has happened. The fact that I'm writing this
while looking out of a ships cabin window over King Edward Point,
South Georgia will attest to that.
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| A lovely sunset looking out to the JCR anchored off the bay during first call. |
The first major change was first call.
Thankfully a few days late which gave us the time to complete
tidying, cleaning and paperwork for outgoing items the RRS James
Clark Ross arrived at Bird Island and before we knew it out home of
four people for the last eight months was full of 30 or so folk, many
of them known to us from our time in Cambridge or from the journey
down last year. Over two days of dubious weather they brought in all
our fuel, food, kit and equipment for the next season. Several tons
of timber also came ashore for infrastructure rebuilding later in the
year. But of course the main change has been in the base personnel;
Cian and Jess, the new seal and albatross assistants, Rob the new
tech, Manos, who's in to upgrade the computer servers and Adam the
new base commander. While Hannah and Steph will have a few months to
pass over their expertise in the animal monitoring, Craig had two
days to tell Rob everything he knows about keeping the base running –
the generators, the electrics, the plumbing and a hundred quirks and
tips to keep everything working. Craig headed off on the JCR for an
exciting few months helping open the base at Signy then heading down
to carry out some work at Rothera. It was sad seeing our winter team
break up as it's been such a great time.
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| The ship returns on the nicest day ever. |
A rising wind meant the last trip for
the tender back to the ship was a bit hairy and they headed off to
unload cargo at South Georgia. They were back a few days later though
to pick up all our outgoing waste and recycling and they picked one
of the nicest days Bird Island has ever witnessed. Blue skies, sun
and flat calm waters meant everything went smooth and quick and after
a morning rolling empty fuel drums we were able to get out up the
hill and enjoy the spectacular views and the chance to carry out work
unhindered by rain, although I soon learnt that shorts are not
suitable attire when monitoring White-Chinned Petrels due to their
velociraptor-like claws.
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| The RRS James Clark Ross just before heading away for another year. |
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| Enjoy the view toward Willis, it's not like this very often. |
As I'm staying down south for another
year the BAS doctors decided it was necessary for me to take a break.
Partly to go and see a dentist again, after last years trip, and
partly to stop me going mad. I wasn't sure what sort of break they
had in mind; a while on South Georgia or the Falklands? Turns out I'm
heading all the way back home.
I'm obviously looking forward to seeing
friends and family, catching up on things I've missed like live music
and sport, and non-stop eating of fresh food. I am sad to be leaving
Bird Island, especially at such an exciting stage in the breeding
season – the first Gentoo chicks were born two days before I left,
Wandering Albatross are courting and Fur Seal puppies are starting to
cover the beach – but I'll be back before everything departs. I've
been spending the last week or so racing round to get as much done as
possible and showing the others how to carry out bits of monitoring
I'm leaving with them.
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| Gentoo penguin with fat little chick. |
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| Giant Petrel chick enjoying some sunshine from underneath its mum. |
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| Wandering Albatross pair cuddling up. |
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| Fur seal puppy chewing on its own flipper while cuddling up to its mother. |
As might be expected it's not an easy,
short trip. I was picked up by the the fisheries patrol vessel Pharos
a few days ago and spent a few days lying in my bunk feeling seasick
before we pulled in to King Edward Point.
More to come soon.
Jerry
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