At sea, Falkland Islands to South Georgia, Noon position: 52° 18’ S 52° 11’ W
It was a day of moderate seas in the Scotia Sea. The swell was on our stern and did little to disturb us as we made steady progress towards South Georgia. We spent the day surrounded by a rich diversity of seabirds - 19 species in total - dominated by the Procellariiformes or tubenoses.
Five species of albatross were seen today – black-browed, grey-headed and sooty albatrosses – and two species of great albatrosses, the masters of the Southern Ocean. We were accompanied by up to twenty wandering albatrosses (pictured) and a smaller number of royal albatrosses. Both of these species of extraordinary bird have a three metre wingspan – the largest of any bird. Like us, the royal albatrosses are a long way from home. Breeding only in New Zealand, these birds have flown half-way round the Southern Ocean, at least 9,000 kilometres, to be here. At the other end of the size scale are the storm-petrels; Wilson’s, black-bellied and grey-backed storm-petrels danced over the waves. These tiny seabirds are a mere 18 cm long and weigh only 40 grams. Their small size belies a tough bird able to survive at sea in the roaring forties and furious fifties.
In addition to the wildlife outside, our professional musicians provided afternoon entertainment and we were introduced to the geology of the region by Jim Kelley. The choppy seas made marine mammals difficult to spot, but a small group of hourglass dolphins put in a brief appearance and Steve Zeff gave us an introduction to the marine mammals we hope to see in this area when the seas calm a little.
It was a day of moderate seas in the Scotia Sea. The swell was on our stern and did little to disturb us as we made steady progress towards South Georgia. We spent the day surrounded by a rich diversity of seabirds - 19 species in total - dominated by the Procellariiformes or tubenoses.
Five species of albatross were seen today – black-browed, grey-headed and sooty albatrosses – and two species of great albatrosses, the masters of the Southern Ocean. We were accompanied by up to twenty wandering albatrosses (pictured) and a smaller number of royal albatrosses. Both of these species of extraordinary bird have a three metre wingspan – the largest of any bird. Like us, the royal albatrosses are a long way from home. Breeding only in New Zealand, these birds have flown half-way round the Southern Ocean, at least 9,000 kilometres, to be here. At the other end of the size scale are the storm-petrels; Wilson’s, black-bellied and grey-backed storm-petrels danced over the waves. These tiny seabirds are a mere 18 cm long and weigh only 40 grams. Their small size belies a tough bird able to survive at sea in the roaring forties and furious fifties.
In addition to the wildlife outside, our professional musicians provided afternoon entertainment and we were introduced to the geology of the region by Jim Kelley. The choppy seas made marine mammals difficult to spot, but a small group of hourglass dolphins put in a brief appearance and Steve Zeff gave us an introduction to the marine mammals we hope to see in this area when the seas calm a little.
