Brown Bluff & Antarctic Sound
Today was our last day for landing in Antarctica, and what a day it was! We landed on the Antarctic Peninsula at Brown Bluff, and were stunned by abundant wildlife, glaciers, tabular icebergs, and sunny, blue skies. Long walkers headed up the moraine of one of the nearby glaciers, and climbed quite high onto the glacier edge. Amazing meltwater streams and crevasses were enjoyed, along with stunning views of the bay, far below with our tiny ship amongst the massive icebergs.
On the beach, the procession of penguins parading along wove their way around the ice grounded with the tide. More than 20,000 Adelie penguins breed along with a few hundred Gentoos, and the colonies here were the most advanced we had seen. Most of the Adelie eggs had hatched, with many nests containing two small blackish gray chicks. The Gentoos were farther advanced, and some of the chicks were nearly the size of their parents. Snow Petrels wheeled overhead, flying along in front of their nesting cliffs, while Kelp Gulls guarded their eggs amongst the rocks.
It was a fitting ending to our landings in Antarctica, as there was so much to see in such a small area. Penguins rested on the blue icebergs, possibly escaping from the leopard seal that patrolled the shoreline. Everywhere one looked, a profusion of life abounded, surrounded by the high cliffs on one side, and tabular bergs on the other. Sitting on the beach watching the penguin parade allowed for reflection upon all the miraculous sightings on this voyage.
Today was our last day for landing in Antarctica, and what a day it was! We landed on the Antarctic Peninsula at Brown Bluff, and were stunned by abundant wildlife, glaciers, tabular icebergs, and sunny, blue skies. Long walkers headed up the moraine of one of the nearby glaciers, and climbed quite high onto the glacier edge. Amazing meltwater streams and crevasses were enjoyed, along with stunning views of the bay, far below with our tiny ship amongst the massive icebergs.
On the beach, the procession of penguins parading along wove their way around the ice grounded with the tide. More than 20,000 Adelie penguins breed along with a few hundred Gentoos, and the colonies here were the most advanced we had seen. Most of the Adelie eggs had hatched, with many nests containing two small blackish gray chicks. The Gentoos were farther advanced, and some of the chicks were nearly the size of their parents. Snow Petrels wheeled overhead, flying along in front of their nesting cliffs, while Kelp Gulls guarded their eggs amongst the rocks.
It was a fitting ending to our landings in Antarctica, as there was so much to see in such a small area. Penguins rested on the blue icebergs, possibly escaping from the leopard seal that patrolled the shoreline. Everywhere one looked, a profusion of life abounded, surrounded by the high cliffs on one side, and tabular bergs on the other. Sitting on the beach watching the penguin parade allowed for reflection upon all the miraculous sightings on this voyage.
