Spheniscidite is a new phosphate mineral occurring in a soil profile in an area of nesting penguins on Elephant Island. It is the NH4-dominant analogue of leucophosphite and has the formula (NH4,K)(Fe3+,Al)2 (PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O. It is monoclinic, P21/n with unit cell parameters a = 9.75, b = 9.63, c = 9.70 Å, β = 102° 34′, and Z = 4. The strongest X-ray lines are 6.79(100), 5.99(90), 3.05(45), 7.62(40) Å. Spheniscidite is thought to have formed by the interaction of ammonium phosphate solutions from penguin guano with micaceous and chloritic minerals in the soil. The name is for Sphenisciformes, the order name for penguins, and has been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.

This paper presents a review of the vagrant species recorded in different areas of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Seven bird species were observed at Elephant Island, King George Island and Nelson Island. Elephant Island was the area with the largest number of species recorded (N = 5). Among all the species observed in Antarctica, White-rumped Sandpiper and Cattle Egrets were the species with the most observations. There are different hypotheses used to explain the presence of vagrant bird species in Antarctica: (I) storms, irregular ocean currents, climate change and navigator errors can suggest why the birds are registered out of their usual areas of distribution; (II) changes in ocean currents may influence resource distributions and, consequently, influence bird distribution patterns. It is important to gather more information on bird species that are using new areas, to understand the diversity of birds in Antarctic regions, to characterize changes in migratory routes and to observe the responses of species facing global climate change.