Port Lockroy and Dallmann Bay
Our final day on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the same thought runs through the minds of the Expedition Staff on board. How can we finish on a highlight? What can we do, where can we go, what will happen to produce a something that will set today apart from the extraordinary experiences of a week in Antarctica. A week that has included, among so many high points; tens of thousands of penguins, breaching humpback whales, killer whales killing a crabeater seal, multiple emperor penguin sightings, a transit of the Lemaire Channel under blue skies. It is a tough challenge, but we rise to it.
The morning is spent at Port Lockroy. Here in the sheltered harbour, we have one more chance to kayak, take an energetic hike on a snow-covered ridge, and a shopping opportunity. Here in buildings that were once a British base dating from 1944, the Antarctic Heritage Trust maintain a small museum and gift shop/post office.
Departing Port Lockroy, we set the trend for the next few days and cruised north, entering Dallmann Bay shortly after lunch where we began a search for whales. The search did not last for long. Soon both humpback whales, and more distantly, killer whales, were in view. After watching the humpbacks from the deck for a while, it was decided to lower Zodiacs for a closer look. The fleet of inflatables was deployed and scattered across the bay in search of whales. The next hour was a total whale-fest. Up close and personal views were obtained of feeding humpback whales breaking the surface with engorged throat pleats as they sieved krill from the rich waters of Dallmann Bay (pictured). Photographs of the underside of the flukes of these animals, each fluke shape and pattern as unique as a thumbprint, will allow researchers to identify individuals and track migrations and life histories. So a fun afternoon has an even more positive outcome. The images of these whales will remain in our memories for years, but those images captured on camera will go some way to better understanding the lives of these wonderful animals. An outstanding way to end our time in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Our final day on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the same thought runs through the minds of the Expedition Staff on board. How can we finish on a highlight? What can we do, where can we go, what will happen to produce a something that will set today apart from the extraordinary experiences of a week in Antarctica. A week that has included, among so many high points; tens of thousands of penguins, breaching humpback whales, killer whales killing a crabeater seal, multiple emperor penguin sightings, a transit of the Lemaire Channel under blue skies. It is a tough challenge, but we rise to it.
The morning is spent at Port Lockroy. Here in the sheltered harbour, we have one more chance to kayak, take an energetic hike on a snow-covered ridge, and a shopping opportunity. Here in buildings that were once a British base dating from 1944, the Antarctic Heritage Trust maintain a small museum and gift shop/post office.
Departing Port Lockroy, we set the trend for the next few days and cruised north, entering Dallmann Bay shortly after lunch where we began a search for whales. The search did not last for long. Soon both humpback whales, and more distantly, killer whales, were in view. After watching the humpbacks from the deck for a while, it was decided to lower Zodiacs for a closer look. The fleet of inflatables was deployed and scattered across the bay in search of whales. The next hour was a total whale-fest. Up close and personal views were obtained of feeding humpback whales breaking the surface with engorged throat pleats as they sieved krill from the rich waters of Dallmann Bay (pictured). Photographs of the underside of the flukes of these animals, each fluke shape and pattern as unique as a thumbprint, will allow researchers to identify individuals and track migrations and life histories. So a fun afternoon has an even more positive outcome. The images of these whales will remain in our memories for years, but those images captured on camera will go some way to better understanding the lives of these wonderful animals. An outstanding way to end our time in the Antarctic Peninsula.
