A Merry Whaley Christmas

 The whales came to stay for Christmas. They've been so close to station we've been able to watch them feeding from land!

There is a new hut up on top of GWR for the pier project. We have to watch for whales and seals to make sure the area is clear of animals before the pier crew starts any pile driving or other loud underwater noises. This new unheated tiny house will be our shelter while on watch. 

If you zoom in you can see the krill jumping out of the water, trying to escape the whale.

I liked the clouds.

Synchronized feeding. 

Big chomp.

Hope they just came by to say their good byes to the pier because the crew is showing up in a few days and things are going to get a little noisy around here. 

Invasion of the Sheathbills

There has been a significant increase in the sheathbill population this year. 

Strutting their stuff. 

Normally at this time of year we would have the 3 residant nesting pairs and everyone else would have moved on. They seem to be sticking around longer this season.

There is poop everywhere. 

The NBP was back in the area doing science for a few days. 

German food night. 

Had a small sail boat shelter from a storm in the harbor for a few days. No visits this year. Watch a short video of a big glacier calving that happened shortly after this vessel left the harbor here.

This is a confirmed new resident nesting pair. The right bird is exiting the nest site. Another place to watch!
 

The Usual Suspects

Here are a few nice photos from a nice weather day we had a couple weeks ago. Been nothing but snow, sideways rain and 20-40 knots for days now. Lots of last minute preparations for the Pier Crew in the works. The should arrive in two weeks if all continues to go well. 

Chinstrap, looking small.

Feeling the breeze.

Mount Moberly in the distance. 

Nice looking skua. 

On the prowl. 

Nice looking rocks.