At Sea
60°39 S 45°10 W
It is an exciting time of year in Antarctica. Every day thousands of fledgling penguins are taking their first swim. Some have more anxiety about it than others, running up and down the shore to the water's edge, hesitating, and then the second they see the water rising towards them, they run for high ground. Others, still sporting a downy mohawk, bravely enter the water, only to jump out on the nearest iceberg. It is quite a sight to watch a hundred or more start to rush towards the water and dive under, twisting and turning, getting used to the fluid they will now spend the majority of their lives in. But the anxiety about going into the water is not completely unfounded. Leaving the nest site also means leaving the safety of land, and being exposed to the terrors of the deep. The biggest penguin predator in Antarctica, sitting right on top of the food chain, is the leopard seal, hydrurga leptonyx. You cannot mistake this seal, its spotted coat gives it its name, but the large serpentine head and VERY large mouth full of VERY sharp teeth give it away. This seal is built for speed, using its long pectoral flippers for rapid direction changes, in a similar fashion to the sea lion, most needed when chasing penguins. At almost any major penguin colony, you will find these sinuous creatures patrolling the waters. They stalk their prey from the murky depths, to rise suddenly and attack. This time of year is a veritable feast for them, with new inexperienced penguins just getting used to swimming. Some colonies are on small cliffs, and the penguins are forced to jump off into the water, where often they are picked mid air, before they even have a chance to spread their wings.
This trip the leopard seals have been abundant. Everywhere we traveled there seemed to be one lurking, either just below the surface, spy hopping in front of us, or lying on ice floes, relaxing after their daily meal. Being curious creatures, they often play around our Zodiacs, above the water, below the water, at the bow, at the stern, underneath: it was difficult keeping watch, all our bodies twisting and turning to see this majestic show. We were lucky enough to catch this creature on the splash cam at Cuverville Island. We are now sailing north to South Georgia, leaving the peninsula behind, but not the leopard seal. We are taking some incredible memories with us, and eagerly await what will come next on South Georgia, an oasis of wildlife and scenery.
60°39 S 45°10 W
It is an exciting time of year in Antarctica. Every day thousands of fledgling penguins are taking their first swim. Some have more anxiety about it than others, running up and down the shore to the water's edge, hesitating, and then the second they see the water rising towards them, they run for high ground. Others, still sporting a downy mohawk, bravely enter the water, only to jump out on the nearest iceberg. It is quite a sight to watch a hundred or more start to rush towards the water and dive under, twisting and turning, getting used to the fluid they will now spend the majority of their lives in. But the anxiety about going into the water is not completely unfounded. Leaving the nest site also means leaving the safety of land, and being exposed to the terrors of the deep. The biggest penguin predator in Antarctica, sitting right on top of the food chain, is the leopard seal, hydrurga leptonyx. You cannot mistake this seal, its spotted coat gives it its name, but the large serpentine head and VERY large mouth full of VERY sharp teeth give it away. This seal is built for speed, using its long pectoral flippers for rapid direction changes, in a similar fashion to the sea lion, most needed when chasing penguins. At almost any major penguin colony, you will find these sinuous creatures patrolling the waters. They stalk their prey from the murky depths, to rise suddenly and attack. This time of year is a veritable feast for them, with new inexperienced penguins just getting used to swimming. Some colonies are on small cliffs, and the penguins are forced to jump off into the water, where often they are picked mid air, before they even have a chance to spread their wings.
This trip the leopard seals have been abundant. Everywhere we traveled there seemed to be one lurking, either just below the surface, spy hopping in front of us, or lying on ice floes, relaxing after their daily meal. Being curious creatures, they often play around our Zodiacs, above the water, below the water, at the bow, at the stern, underneath: it was difficult keeping watch, all our bodies twisting and turning to see this majestic show. We were lucky enough to catch this creature on the splash cam at Cuverville Island. We are now sailing north to South Georgia, leaving the peninsula behind, but not the leopard seal. We are taking some incredible memories with us, and eagerly await what will come next on South Georgia, an oasis of wildlife and scenery.
