Ali and I went over to Maiviken to check out the Gentoo colony. It was a very hot day I wore a sleeveless shirt and got a little bit of burnt shoulder! The snow has gone soft and snowshoes is the preferred method of travel.

Gentoos won’t nest on snow so the areas of open tussock were full of nests. Like humans there were a few very industrious penguins making beautifully constructed nests and a few that couldn’t really be bothered. Ali told one penguin off for the sorry excuse for a nest! We had lunch next to the colony and watched them work away. Once all the nests are established Ali will randomly mark 40 of them. 75% day which is the benchmark for the science is when 30 of those 40 randomly marked nests have eggs in them.

There was a very curious skua at the river next to Maiviken hut. He or she tugged at my ring on my finger and my beanie.

We delicatly crossed a few snow bridges over full meltwater streams on the way over. The snow is melting very fast indeed.

Sugartop was in full glory looming in the bright blue sky.