Well, here we go again and I am uploading this posting whilst at Heathrow due to the fact Blogger was down for over 24 hours and couldn't upload at home. So as I sit here waiting to head off to the next destination I reflect back over my short time back on the home turf. As I was awoken by the airline stewardess advising me that I needed to bring my seat forward for our landing at Heathrow I glanced out of the window and looked down upon a very green & fresh looking Surrey, UK. I arrived to a glorious English summer's day and just couldn't get over how green and glorious every where looked and the great weather. I managed to catch up with some friends, do some local birding, saw my son and it was all good and I thought to myself that the UK wasn't so bad after all. That was until I saw the news and saw this pair of clowns (photo above) and listened to all their plans for what they call "bringing the country back in to shape". The cuts in the public sector are still taking place on a huge scale and now the Police force are going to take a hit, Energy cost's are to increase yet again and they plan to reform the NHS. It was all grim on this front and the coaltion really are a total joke. How can you pledge to help and protect the fee's for Students before being elected and then once elected and in power do the total reverse. I have often thought in previous election's that maybe I should give my vote to Lib Dem's but after good old "Nicky" turning "Blue" overnight I really don't think so, do you ? So it is with this in mind I am now waiting to check in and head off. I think I will take my chance's out on the Tundra and whilst on the subject of the Tundra I am feeling rather tired and un-prepared for what lay's ahead of me. I am extremely nervous of the next trip and all that will come with it and so after uploading this posting I will continue reading the book below.
So there you have it, I am heading off to the Arctic, I repeat again that I am nervous of this expedition and Russia has been a logistical nightmare to organise, it really has and some things like visa's and permits only got completed yesterday! All of this has made me reflect on last summer's expedition to the Arctic and so here are few photo's and video clips from Kotzebue 2010 some of which you have seen previously and some which you have not.
Above shows the view of the Arctic settlement town of Kotzebue and below the Tundra from the Helicopter on route from Kotzebue to Cape Krusenstern, June 2010.
Video clip above shows an adult Arctic Skua and photo below shows a 3 day old Arctic Skua chick at Cape Krusenstern, Alaska, June 2010.
Photo above is of an adult Western Sandpiper brooding 4 2 day old chicks and below is of another group of Western Sandpiper 2 day old chicks. These are 2 of my favourite photos from Alaska 2010.
Video clip below shows one of a few Brown Bears at Cape Krusenstern. I have to be honest and admit that being out on the Tundra, on foot and camping with these big Carnivores just roaming around in the area actually makes me feel some what nervous and there are going to be plenty more of these at the location where we are going. I am told that there will be internet access at times and so if this does happen then I hope to able to upload posting's "Live from the Arctic" but I just can't see it happening but who knows ???
Photo above is of an adult Western Sandpiper brooding 4 2 day old chicks and below is of another group of Western Sandpiper 2 day old chicks. These are 2 of my favourite photos from Alaska 2010.
Video clip below shows one of a few Brown Bears at Cape Krusenstern. I have to be honest and admit that being out on the Tundra, on foot and camping with these big Carnivores just roaming around in the area actually makes me feel some what nervous and there are going to be plenty more of these at the location where we are going. I am told that there will be internet access at times and so if this does happen then I hope to able to upload posting's "Live from the Arctic" but I just can't see it happening but who knows ???