Palaver Point

 

1/16/25 AM PalaverPoint 64°08.575’S 61°46.428’W

Chinstrap penguin colony

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Today's morning excursion was a shore landing at Palaver point, home to a colony of Chinstrap peguins.

Thus far, the ship's crew has advised us, we have had the best weather they have ever seen during an Antarctic season. Today, we got a taste of what a typical Antarctic summer day looks like. Temperature at -1°C, with sustained winds of 30 knots, and gusts up to 40 or 50 knots.

Landing zone

From the landing zone, there was an uphill hike to get to the lower of the concentrations of nests in the colony.

Chinstrap penguins are readily identifyable by the black line extending from below the beak, under the eye, and to the back of the head

Nesting on the exposed top of a hill, backs to the wind

Lots of chicks

Snowy day.

There was a further climb to the top of the colony. This would be the last scheduled shore landing of our journey. Despite the wind and the cold, we decided to make the climb, for our last panoramic view from an elevated vantage point on the continent.

A final look back, and then it was time to go..

Skontorp Cove

 

Penguins on an ice floe passing by the ship on our way to Skontorp Cove

1/15/25 PM SkontorpCove 64°51.442’S 62°53.547’W

Whales. Seal. González Videla Antarctic Base. 

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The afternoon's excursion was a zodiac tour of Skontorp Cove. As our group was climing into our zodiac, an announcement came over the ship's PA that there were humpbacks a few hundred yards off the port bow. We headed in that direction...

Who doesn't love whale tails?

Never gets old...

Pair of Humpback whales

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Post-tour, we hung out in a hot tub on the top deck, and watched the other zodiac groups. From that vantage point, there was almost always a whale doing something, somewhere. Base on what we saw, there had to have been at least six or seven whales. 

Meanwhile, back in the zodiacs, we broke off the whale watch and motored around other areas of the bay. We came upon this guy, napping on an iceberg

Crabeater seal

Puppyface!!!

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Argentina maintains an active station in the bay, González Videla Antarctic Base

The main buildings of the base are near the shore, to the right of the glacier. Stark terrain for starkness.

The imposing mountain in the immediate background is dwarfed by the huge mountain behind it, which seems to fade up into the altitudes like a scene from Skyrim

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Photobomb!

Queueing to return to the ship

Sup?

Neko Harbor

 

1/15/25 AM Neko Harbor 64°50.463’S 62°32.992’W

Gentoo penguin colony.

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Neko Harbor is home to a colony of Gentoo penguins. Gentoos nest in a more disperse fashion than Adélies, and they are a bit more rambunctious.

A large active glacier sits beside the colony. The glacier calved a couple of times during the visit

There were two major concentratinos of nests, one nearer the beach, and on atop a hill further away

There was a constant stream of traffic up and down the 'penguin highways' between the two nesting areas

A number of fuzzy Gentoo chicks were visible

Mother penguin feeding her chicks...

There was pretty much constant activity right off the shore.

Fish Islands

 

1/14/25 AM  Fish Islands 66°00.494’S 65°26.304’W

Kayaking. Seals.

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Today was the day for our kayak adventure. Conditions were perfect - sunny day, with calm winds and calm waters

Prepping for the paddle. Kitting out in drysuits and neoprene booties

On the zodiac to the kayaking site

Kayaks awaited us at the site. They were pulled up alongside one by one, and we mounted from the zodiac

Gorgeous day for paddling

Crabeater seal napping on an iceberg

Lone penguin posing for picures on a floe

15 feet from a napping crabeater

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Back aboard the ship, a few seals sunning themselves on a passing ice floe

Detaille Island

 

1/13/25 PM Detaille Island 66°51'30.0"S 66°49'25.0"W

British research station W. Weddell Seals.

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Station W was built by the British in 1956 for research into geology, meteorology, and local surveying. It is one of the few Antarctic stations that has remained relatively unchanged since its construction, giving you a glimpse into the living conditions of Antarctic scientists during the drafting of the Antarctic Treaty. The station became an Antarctic Historic Site and Monument in 2009.

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The station was open for only three years, as ongoing supply proved to be quite difficult.

The view of the station from the water

Panoramic view looking out from the station...

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Kayaking expeditions are run during the day, weather permitting. 

Kayakers in the area in front of the station

On the other side of a promontory, near some weddell seals

Weddell seals