I am currently doing part of my field work in Iceland, where I am collecting samples from migratory birds to analyze for the presence of fungi and lichen propagules. So far it is has been aggressively slow, and so to avoid wanting to rip my hair-out as I stare at the apparently never-ending stream of rain, here are some pictures of my trip so far:
Here is my little work station where I am filling test-tubes with ultra-pure water
Here's my cool (note: very very warm) Iceland sweater that is perfect for field work on wet, chilly days
Here's the sunset over the harbor on the clearest day we've had so far
Here's this cool weird stick I found in a spruce grove. I have no idea why it grew like this (wide and flat as opposed to narrow and round like normal) so if anyone has any insight I would love to learn!
Here's the beautiful little spider who lives near one of the nets I use to catch birds
And here are some of the neighborhood cats I've met. I miss my cats terribly and so making friends with the local cats is a necessity, even though I wish people kept their cats indoors instead of letting them roam free (did you know that free-roaming and feral cats have devastating impacts on local bird populations?)
I am saving all my bird and lichen pictures for later so never fear, those are coming soon. For now, back to drinking endless cups of tea and reading scientific papers while checking the weather every five minutes.