Right Whale Bay & Bay of Isles, South Georgia, the Southern Ocean
As we woke up in the early morning we were for sure now in Antarctic waters. Ice bergs in endless numbers on the radar screen. Our morning outing was set for a fabulous spot named Right Whale Bay. Right after breakfast we had the Zodiac fleet ready to go for a long Zodiac cruise. The inhabitants of South Georgia really came out to greet us.
As we approached the beach the Zodiac was surrounded by a swarm of curious fur seal pups. On the beach we could see countless numbers of king penguins.
Yes, back to South Georgia, and it always feels magical to arrive. During lunch we repositioned the ship further down the coastline to the Bay of Isles and as we finished lunch it was time again to board the Zodiac fleet again.
Now our aim was the big colony of king penguins at Salisbury Plains, the second largest here at south Georgia. Exact numbers are hard to tell but a good estimate is at least more than 65,000 pairs. The sea conditions were exceptionally good for a landing. Since we are in the “screaming 50ies” even without wind the swell can make any landing impossible. But now we could nose up the Zodiac to the beach and it was an easy landing.
Even if the weather was not the best, since it was most of the time drizzling, just to walk around in this huge colony of penguins and also big numbers of fur seal pups, was amazing.
After almost four hours we had to leave and our expedition leader announced the next stop for the afternoon, Prion Island. More excitements! This is one of the two islands in the Bay of Whales which is home to breeding wandering albatross. Again the landing was very easy since the sea conditions held steady. Everybody whom wanted to see the albatross, which we had seen for the last two days hanging after the ship, on nest could make it. Some of the lucky ones, who stayed the longest, were given a treat by seeing a new born chick fed by an adult. Maybe we will see the same chick in November when we get back here?
The most excited birders also got a bonus of the two South Georgia endemic birds, South Georgia Pintail and Pipit. Both gave great views.
During dinner we continued our travel along the coast line of South Georgia and the radar screen was riddled by light dots. Every one is an iceberg which originated from the break down of Larsen Ice-shelf in March 2002.
As we woke up in the early morning we were for sure now in Antarctic waters. Ice bergs in endless numbers on the radar screen. Our morning outing was set for a fabulous spot named Right Whale Bay. Right after breakfast we had the Zodiac fleet ready to go for a long Zodiac cruise. The inhabitants of South Georgia really came out to greet us.
As we approached the beach the Zodiac was surrounded by a swarm of curious fur seal pups. On the beach we could see countless numbers of king penguins.
Yes, back to South Georgia, and it always feels magical to arrive. During lunch we repositioned the ship further down the coastline to the Bay of Isles and as we finished lunch it was time again to board the Zodiac fleet again.
Now our aim was the big colony of king penguins at Salisbury Plains, the second largest here at south Georgia. Exact numbers are hard to tell but a good estimate is at least more than 65,000 pairs. The sea conditions were exceptionally good for a landing. Since we are in the “screaming 50ies” even without wind the swell can make any landing impossible. But now we could nose up the Zodiac to the beach and it was an easy landing.
Even if the weather was not the best, since it was most of the time drizzling, just to walk around in this huge colony of penguins and also big numbers of fur seal pups, was amazing.
After almost four hours we had to leave and our expedition leader announced the next stop for the afternoon, Prion Island. More excitements! This is one of the two islands in the Bay of Whales which is home to breeding wandering albatross. Again the landing was very easy since the sea conditions held steady. Everybody whom wanted to see the albatross, which we had seen for the last two days hanging after the ship, on nest could make it. Some of the lucky ones, who stayed the longest, were given a treat by seeing a new born chick fed by an adult. Maybe we will see the same chick in November when we get back here?
The most excited birders also got a bonus of the two South Georgia endemic birds, South Georgia Pintail and Pipit. Both gave great views.
During dinner we continued our travel along the coast line of South Georgia and the radar screen was riddled by light dots. Every one is an iceberg which originated from the break down of Larsen Ice-shelf in March 2002.
