Happy Birthday DAD!

Today a post for my Dad:  Happy Birthday from the Southern Ocean!!  Hope you have a great day celebrating!! Love you!

Back to Bird Island

So after a very busy, yet successful week of science (i.e. trawling for benthic animals), we headed back to Bird Island Research station to finish delivering cargo since the weather forecast was looking up. 

We went ashore at about 8am and the weather was stunning all day long.  Lots of sun and it was so warm the tussock grass was steaming.  In between cargo runs, we had the chance to head up to Wander’s ridge to get a glimpse of the Wandering Albatross chicks! The chicks are bigger than turkeys and are so cute, clumsy on their feet, and silly.  They can weigh up to 35 lbs!  They are over 200 days old and are getting ready to fledge.  As an adult, Wandering Albatrosses have the longest wingspan of any bird.  They will return to the colony in about 15 years and will find a mate to keep for life. 

There were also lots of smelly Gentoo penguins hopping about and territorial male fur seals barking and chasing anyone in their way.  

Today we start back for a more week of trawling and collecting!

up at Wander's Ridge

Bird Island Reseach Station

Gentoo Penguin

South Georgia Ducks

Wandering Albatross chick!

  

King Edward Point, South Geogria

baby elephant seal and mom

After leaving Bird Island, we headed for Kind Edward Point (KEP) to deliver more cargo and supplies.  For me, KEP meant the opportunity to go ashore and wander around.  I visited an old Norwegian whaling station, called Grytviken, Shackleton’s grave, and watched elephant seals and their new born pups. 

 Science starts tomorrow morning!  We’ll have about three to four days of sampling.  Then, we have a quick trip back to Bird Island to finish delivering cargo that we couldn’t finish before due to bad weather... and then more science sampling!

KEP base

JCR at KEP

elephant seal

old whaling ships

fur seal

male elephant seal

pair of king penguins

    

Departure from the Falklands

After a few days of long travel, I arrived safe and sound Saturday afternoon in the Falkland Islands.  The ship’s departure was delayed a day, so we had all of Sunday to roam around.  We decided to walk along the coast line in search of a Gentoo penguin colony. Along the way, we came across Bertha’s Beach, which is a beautiful, white sandy, almost tropical-looking beach.  Then, after gathering a few limpet shells and other treasures, we carried on admiring geese, sheep, and awesomely scrubby plants.

Eventually we stumbled across the colony of hundreds of Gentoo’s!  As soon as we entered the colony, I knew it was one of the Gentoo colonies I visited last time I was in the Falklands (but by land rover).  They are still just as cuteand just as smelly!!      

We left Mare Harbour Monday morning for about 3 day journey to Bird Island.  Once we are there we have two days of relief work and unloading supplies before we can start our sampling.  The ship is packed to the brim with supplies and people because the JCR is first call back to some of the islands since last winter.  Currently, we’re out in the middle of the South Atlantic and we’ve seen albatrosses, petrels, charismatic mega-fauna (i.e. dolphins & whales) and some big waves!

Guess I better get to packing!

On Thursday I start traveling to the Falkland Islands to meet up with the RRS James Clark Ross! I'll be away about a month and start traveling Thursday evening.  My first stop out of Atlanta is Santiago, Chile, where I'll hopefully arrive Friday morning.  I have a day in Santiago and then I catch a flight Saturday morning to the Falkland Islands.

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to explore the Falklands this trip, but here's a post from the last time.  The ship departs from Mare Harbour Sunday, October 23rd.  Last time we left from Stanley, so I'm looking forward to a new departure spot.    

Stanley, Falkland Islands

I'll be teaming up with the British Antarctic Survey for another benthic sampling trip.  This time we're headed to South Georgia in the sub-Antarctic chain of islands.  Stay tuned for posts about our trip! Lots of science, cool animals, and fun excursions to come...

While we're on the pumpkin/ squash theme...

Currently, a friend of mine has these as the centerpiece on her dining room table. 

Who knew "pumpkins" grew on branches?!   Well, whatever they are, they are definitely awesome.  And displayed in a mason jar... what's not to love? 

These "pumpkins on branches" are just shouting "fall" and make me smile. Hope you enjoy them too!  

I-Dreemy of these!

Saw these (Steve Madden, I-Dreemy, in the blush multi) over the summer while shopping in Oxford, MS and I still can't get them out of my mind. :)  

I think they would be just awesome with a pair of dark skinny jeans and black fluttery top!