Round the top and into the Wedell Sea

During the night, the captain determined that we wouldhave a rare opportunity to visit the lesser seen, eastern peninsula. Normally, the eastern side of the Antarctic peninsula is heavy with sea ice that breaks off from the Larsen Ice shelf. However, the mild seas that smoothed our Drake Passage crossing also meantfewer ice floes and an opportunity to make a run for it.

01 Iceberg off the Port bow!

We awoke at 7am on this day, heading first north to round the top of the antarctic, then south again toward our intendedlanding point at Brown Bluffs. We arrived at about 9:30am and boarded the zodiacs once again.

Once landed at Brown Bluffs, we were awed by the sight of massess of Adelie penguins that had colonized the beaches here. Although this island is treacherous for the penguins (infrequent mudslides can wipe out an entire penguin colony, and maurauding leopard seals and skuas prey on the penguins and their chicks), they genuinely seem to enjoy this place,running up and down the beach in large groups. They run back and forth along the beach until one penguin gets the nerve up to jump into the sea, and them a whole bunch of them follow. Its really funny to watch.

02 Adelies up close

We had encountered several smaller icebergs approaching the Brown Bluffs, and several more as we departed. The captain felt comfortable enough with the ice breaking capability of the ship to continue southward along the eastern peninsula to an unplanned stop-over at Paulet Island. Paulete Island is an extinct volcano that now hosts a large number of penguin colonies and sea bird rookeries, as well as a nesting ground for Wedell seals. There are a number of fossils and whale bones onthis island where whaling ships once dropped bones and other waste material from the whaling days.

During an on-shore lecture about fossils and rock formations, a curious Wedell seal slowly made its way up to our groupand decided to hang around. It was particularly interested in sniffing everybody, which was a great opportunity for some close-ups...check them out.

03 Me and the March of the Penguins

Following the visit to Paulet Island, and some great photos, we headed north once again, to roundthe tip of the peninsula once again and proceed down the western side to our next destination on day 8.

04 Me at the gates of the Adelie colony

05 The brown bluffs