The Life film crew went to Antarctica to film chinstrap penguins but there's plenty of other wildlife on Deception Island.

Day 14: Peck at a penguin

Petrels and skuas can kill chinstrap penguins

Got a call on the radio from Steve asking for fresh camera batteries and a flask of tea, so took them over to him. On the way I saw a penguin attacked and eaten alive by a giant petrel and four or five brown skuas. It didn't last long, and the petrel seemed to get the lion's share. We have seen a number of these kills. It seems that the birds swoop overhead keeping a keen eye for a penguin that looks unwell. Sometimes they just peck birds at random, trying for an opportunistic kill. Made me feel a bit strange watching the little penguin get devoured. At least it was over quickly. I saw its wings flap feebly a few times, but that was all.

Day 16: First sight of a leopard seal hunting

Spent a good few hours observing the beach, looking for peaks of penguin activity, plus keeping a keen an eye on the fur seals. It was incredibly pleasant in the sunshine (although the wind was ever present), and I was just telling Steve by radio about the lack of action when I saw seabirds circling out over the water. I grabbed my binoculars and saw to my delight (and horror), my first ever leopard seal predation. The chase and grab is apparently made underwater, but then the seal brings its quarry to the surface and flails it about to kill the penguin. It sounds horrific, but all I could see through the binoculars was the dark head of the seal and a flash of red as its victim was thrashed about. We hope to cover this predation for the sequence, so I was glad to have finally seen it. Not sure how much blood and guts the audience at home will have an appetite for.

Day 17: Seals and approval

Nikki dwarfed by a dozing elephant seal

A huge elephant seal had hauled up on the beach to snooze all day, and after filming I persuaded Steve to get a photograph of me beside it. I didn't want to get too close and risk it waking up and charging me, but what an awesome creature! There were also the usual dozing fur seals, plus a Weddel seal, with beautiful mottled markings on its stomach. I was just taking some photos of it when Steve shouted "Look out!" Three rather boisterous fur seals had burst out of the surf on to the beach just behind me! I'm not sure who was more shocked – them or me! What a lovely way to end the day though.

Day 19: The leopards close in

Watching the beach for any signs of activity, I noticed one penguin swimming in a strange zig-zagging motion, and then saw the unmistakable dark shape of a leopard seal chasing it. I tried shouting to Steve, but he couldn't hear me for the wind, so I had to try to radio him whilst struggling to hold my binoculars on the chase unfolding out at sea. The penguin escaped, and the seal cruised the beach, catching its breath, before disappearing from sight just as Steve arrived with the camera and tripod. I was exhilarated to see the chase, and so much closer in to shore than last time!

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