Paradise Harbour, Antarctica
64° 54' S 62° 55' W
Dec 12, 2007 06:44
Distance 0km

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Pleneau Island

Day Two  (Wednesday, December 12). Afternoon,  Pleneau Island.

  

Zodiaced around for the afternoon.

  

Saw lots of ice, hundred of Gentoo penguins, two Leopard seals, a few Adelie penguins and generally had a pleasant afternoon doing nothing in particular.

  

Note, the highlight was the two Leopard seals.  What was special was that they were communicating under-water.  The sound is so weird yet natural.  The water was calm so there were no distractions.  Just hung out in the ice waiting and watching for the Leopards for almost half an hour.  The Leopard seals were about 3 metres long.

A few moments of interest included watching birds do bird things.  Starting to work on me, but not getting too hooked on this species.  I will make an exception for penguins as they cannot fly (I also like ostriches).

Photos / videos of "Pleneau Island":

Antarctic shag, nice to see a bird for a change. Gentoo penguins. A zodiac afternoon lurking around Pleneau Island. The boat is six stories high, this is serious ice. Fast ice (frozen salt water which was fastened (i.e. fast) to the shore line at one point in time. In the height of the winter, the fast ice can grow by 3 to 5 K (yes kilometers) per day. Can you spot the Adelie penguin? Penguins beaching, often see dozens of penguins swimming like this. They seek to ¨fly¨ above the water to see what is ahead, there is less friction than in the water, it is faster and requires less effort. Weddell seal at a distance. Up close and personal to a Weddell seal. Pair of courting Antarctic tern. Leopard seal, was swimming about and calling its mate, makes a very unique sound under water. Leopard seal. Carbeater seal, they actually don´t eat crab, rather krill (like everyone else down here). Ice forms neat formations above and below the surface. This iceberg is easily five stories high above the water line. Rule is to stay three times their height away from icebergs, lest they flip or re-position themselves. My gloves, modified to take photos when it is cold. Generally it has been around, but above, freezing, plus a wind chill, which does make it cold on the hands.
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