Lemaire Channel, Pleneau & Petermann Islands
Continuing our Southern journey, our morning began with the entry to Lemaire Channel. While snow had fallen overnight, the winds had calmed considerably. The seas were as calm as we’ve seen and occasional glimpses of blue sky appeared between the clouds. Rock faces peeked out from behind snowy slopes on either side of the channel. Skuas could be seen in flight around the ship, as well as a flock of antarctic petrels.
With the weather’s cooperation, we were able to make both scheduled landings for the day. In the morning, we landed at Pleneau Island, the winter site of Charcot’s first Antarctic expedition. For our Oceanites research, this was an important stop, a site which had not yet been visited this year, and the timing was right to make our all-important nest counts. Gentoo penguins were scattered about the island, and many guests exploring the island were met with deep snow off the main trail. We researchers hiked our way through the snow between penguin colonies, sinking down to our knees with each step in some places. Near the landing, a single Adelie almost seemed to be posing for photos with nearby chinstrap and gentoos. Other seabirds added to the fun of exploring the first landing on snow, ice and bare rock. Upon returning to the National Geographic Explorer, we were warmed by the hot spiced wine and smiling faces waiting for our return.
After a quick return to the ship to warm up over lunch, we put the Zodiacs back into action for our visit to Petermann Island. The guests braved swirling snows to trek uphill and visit the many Gentoo and Adelie penguins breeding on the island. Blue-eyed shag and a few chinstrap penguins could also be found, along with a few elephant seal pups close to the water and landing. A gentoo nest with chicks quickly became a photo favorite, but the highlight of the landing for some may well have been the several Orcas spotted briefly offshore.
Upon returning to the NG Explorer, many folks dove into the photography workshop put on by Mike, CT and staff. The ship braved the pack ice as the crew briefed us on some of the day’s events, and our plans for further South. The ice, held close by the islands to our west, brought more sightings of seals and penguins, but with limited visibility, wouldn’t do for the goal of further South. And so, we turned west away from the ice and low visibility out to open waters, to better reach more Antarctic sights, sounds and smells in the coming days.
A long, but rewarding day for all, full of good food and incredible landscapes.
Continuing our Southern journey, our morning began with the entry to Lemaire Channel. While snow had fallen overnight, the winds had calmed considerably. The seas were as calm as we’ve seen and occasional glimpses of blue sky appeared between the clouds. Rock faces peeked out from behind snowy slopes on either side of the channel. Skuas could be seen in flight around the ship, as well as a flock of antarctic petrels.
With the weather’s cooperation, we were able to make both scheduled landings for the day. In the morning, we landed at Pleneau Island, the winter site of Charcot’s first Antarctic expedition. For our Oceanites research, this was an important stop, a site which had not yet been visited this year, and the timing was right to make our all-important nest counts. Gentoo penguins were scattered about the island, and many guests exploring the island were met with deep snow off the main trail. We researchers hiked our way through the snow between penguin colonies, sinking down to our knees with each step in some places. Near the landing, a single Adelie almost seemed to be posing for photos with nearby chinstrap and gentoos. Other seabirds added to the fun of exploring the first landing on snow, ice and bare rock. Upon returning to the National Geographic Explorer, we were warmed by the hot spiced wine and smiling faces waiting for our return.
After a quick return to the ship to warm up over lunch, we put the Zodiacs back into action for our visit to Petermann Island. The guests braved swirling snows to trek uphill and visit the many Gentoo and Adelie penguins breeding on the island. Blue-eyed shag and a few chinstrap penguins could also be found, along with a few elephant seal pups close to the water and landing. A gentoo nest with chicks quickly became a photo favorite, but the highlight of the landing for some may well have been the several Orcas spotted briefly offshore.
Upon returning to the NG Explorer, many folks dove into the photography workshop put on by Mike, CT and staff. The ship braved the pack ice as the crew briefed us on some of the day’s events, and our plans for further South. The ice, held close by the islands to our west, brought more sightings of seals and penguins, but with limited visibility, wouldn’t do for the goal of further South. And so, we turned west away from the ice and low visibility out to open waters, to better reach more Antarctic sights, sounds and smells in the coming days.
A long, but rewarding day for all, full of good food and incredible landscapes.
