At sea, South Georgia to Tristan da Cunha, Noon position: 40° 27’ S 16° 26’ W
It was a blustery day in the South Atlantic Ocean – our fourth day at sea since leaving South Georgia. Yet again, we spent the day surrounded by a rich diversity of seabirds. The procession of Procellariiformes that has characterised our voyage to date shows no signs of abating. Two new species of albatrosses were seen today – shy and yellow-nosed – to add to our already extensive experiences with these majestic ocean wanderers.
Inside, we were treated to a presentation from one of our guests, Juanita Brock, who explained her media work in the South Atlantic islands. Naturalists Jim Kelley and Steve MacLean introduced us to the important topics of ocean currents and circulation and island biogeography respectively.
Steve’s explanation of the high degree of endemism on remote oceanic islands was particularly timely. We will be seeing several of the six species of endemic landbirds found in the Tristan da Cunha group in the next two days, and we have already seen all four of the endemic seabirds. Among these is the spectacled petrel (pictured), which has a population of about 4,000 pairs and breeds only in the Tristan group, on Inaccessible Island.
We ended the day by departing the Roaring Forties. With 1180 nautical miles behind us since South Georgia, and a mere 270 nm remaining to Tristan da Cunha, we eagerly anticipate the adventures that await us tomorrow in a new country – one which can lay claim to being the remotest inhabited island on earth.
It was a blustery day in the South Atlantic Ocean – our fourth day at sea since leaving South Georgia. Yet again, we spent the day surrounded by a rich diversity of seabirds. The procession of Procellariiformes that has characterised our voyage to date shows no signs of abating. Two new species of albatrosses were seen today – shy and yellow-nosed – to add to our already extensive experiences with these majestic ocean wanderers.
Inside, we were treated to a presentation from one of our guests, Juanita Brock, who explained her media work in the South Atlantic islands. Naturalists Jim Kelley and Steve MacLean introduced us to the important topics of ocean currents and circulation and island biogeography respectively.
Steve’s explanation of the high degree of endemism on remote oceanic islands was particularly timely. We will be seeing several of the six species of endemic landbirds found in the Tristan da Cunha group in the next two days, and we have already seen all four of the endemic seabirds. Among these is the spectacled petrel (pictured), which has a population of about 4,000 pairs and breeds only in the Tristan group, on Inaccessible Island.
We ended the day by departing the Roaring Forties. With 1180 nautical miles behind us since South Georgia, and a mere 270 nm remaining to Tristan da Cunha, we eagerly anticipate the adventures that await us tomorrow in a new country – one which can lay claim to being the remotest inhabited island on earth.
