| Caughley Beach | |
|---|---|
  Caughley Beach | |
| Location | Ross Island,Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 77°13′S166°26′E / 77.217°S 166.433°E /-77.217; 166.433 |
| Basin countries | Antarctica |
Caughley Beach (77°13′S166°26′E / 77.217°S 166.433°E /-77.217; 166.433) is the northernmost beach on the ice-free coast south-west ofCape Bird,Ross Island, Antarctica. It was mapped by theNew Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition, 1958–59, and named forGraeme Caughley, biologist with the party that visited Cape Bird.[1]New College Valley,Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.116, lies above the beach.[2]
A 103 hectares (250 acres) site at Caughley Beach has been designated anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International because it supports a colony of about 40,000 breeding pairs ofAdélie penguins, the largest of three at Cape Bird.[3] There are an estimated 140 breeding pairs ofsouth polar skua within 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) of the Adélie penguin colony.Other species seen in the vicimity includeWeddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii),crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus),leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) andkiller whales (Orcinus orca).[3]
New College Valley lies south ofCape Bird, on ice-free slopes above Caughley Beach. It faces north-west and carriesmeltwater from the Cape Birdice cap during the summer. It is protected asAntarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.116 because it contains some of the richest stands ofmosses, with associatedmicroflora andfauna, in theRoss Sea region.[2]
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