Gerlache Strait, Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour
Today being Valentines Day, perhaps we could start with the question “Who stole your heart today?”
For those of us down here in Antarctica, our hearts soared as we watched orca (killer whales). They had taken us out of our slumber early this morning and gave us an amazing opportunity to see them in association with a large group of fur seals. As they came right by the National Geographic Endeavour we could clearly see that these were “Type B” orca - a form that is likely to be designated a different species in the near future. These orca are grey and white, not black and white and additionally they have a film of diatoms (single-celled algae) growing over most of their body, giving them a yellow-orange sheen. We took photographs of their dorsal fins, as these often have scars and marks on them, and are as individual as fingerprints.
Some of us who needed something a little ‘cuter’ to melt our hearts, the gentoo penguin chicks at Cuverville Island were absolutely adorable as they tried to catch the snow flakes which were lightly falling all around them. They sure thawed a few hearts with their endearing exploits and it was hard to imagine a cuter penguin. But then again, as we stood on the beach at Neko Harbour this afternoon we could watch gentoo penguin chicks taking their first dip in the ocean. They were so excited they were literally running around the beach, waving their wings like crazy and jumping up and down. We were laughing so hard, whilst watching their antics, that they almost brought tears to our eyes.
However, the faint-hearted had racing pulses as we watched the glacier at Neko Harbour calving - huge blocks of ice fell off the face and into the water. Our hearts leapt as we watched the waves (mini tsunamis) wash up onto the beach. But the hard-hearted of us couldn’t fail to be hit by cupids arrow, when out in the Zodiac five Minke whales surfaced right beside us. Their hot breath blew over us, like magic clouds, which stole our hearts and made us wish we could swim away with them.
So, in summary, I guess the best thing to say would be, that it was the whole of Antarctica that stole our hearts on Valentines Day, 2007.
Today being Valentines Day, perhaps we could start with the question “Who stole your heart today?”
For those of us down here in Antarctica, our hearts soared as we watched orca (killer whales). They had taken us out of our slumber early this morning and gave us an amazing opportunity to see them in association with a large group of fur seals. As they came right by the National Geographic Endeavour we could clearly see that these were “Type B” orca - a form that is likely to be designated a different species in the near future. These orca are grey and white, not black and white and additionally they have a film of diatoms (single-celled algae) growing over most of their body, giving them a yellow-orange sheen. We took photographs of their dorsal fins, as these often have scars and marks on them, and are as individual as fingerprints.
Some of us who needed something a little ‘cuter’ to melt our hearts, the gentoo penguin chicks at Cuverville Island were absolutely adorable as they tried to catch the snow flakes which were lightly falling all around them. They sure thawed a few hearts with their endearing exploits and it was hard to imagine a cuter penguin. But then again, as we stood on the beach at Neko Harbour this afternoon we could watch gentoo penguin chicks taking their first dip in the ocean. They were so excited they were literally running around the beach, waving their wings like crazy and jumping up and down. We were laughing so hard, whilst watching their antics, that they almost brought tears to our eyes.
However, the faint-hearted had racing pulses as we watched the glacier at Neko Harbour calving - huge blocks of ice fell off the face and into the water. Our hearts leapt as we watched the waves (mini tsunamis) wash up onto the beach. But the hard-hearted of us couldn’t fail to be hit by cupids arrow, when out in the Zodiac five Minke whales surfaced right beside us. Their hot breath blew over us, like magic clouds, which stole our hearts and made us wish we could swim away with them.
So, in summary, I guess the best thing to say would be, that it was the whole of Antarctica that stole our hearts on Valentines Day, 2007.
