Fecha: |
15.02.2024 |
Posición: |
64°30.0’S / 062°62.2’W |
Viento: |
SW5 |
Clima: |
Overcast |
Temperatura del Aire: |
+1 |
Good morning, good morning, good morning!!! Finally, a day of clear skies and calm waters!!! We disembarked from the ship for a zodiac cruise expedition at Foyn Harbour. Foyn Harbour is a known popular spot for whale to feed in, so we were hopeful to find them.
First, we eencountered the impressive shipwreck of the Governoren, a Norwegian factory whaling ship that run aground after catching fire in 1915. The ship has remained there ever since, partially submerged and rusting. It’s a beautiful sight but a haunting reminder of the prolific whaling era. It has now been taken over by Antarctica terns who have made their nests on top of it. We also spotted a large number of fur seals and Weddell seals lounging on the rocky shores, some of which we could smell before we could see them!
After that we were surprised by a spectacular sighting of humpback whales. There were many of them, with some coming remarkably close to the zodiacs. We could clearly hear their blows and see their fins, they were very relaxed and were curious to investigate our zodiacs. They dived for a final time, allowing us to see their beautiful tail flukes, providing an unforgettable experience for all.
In the afternoon we headed to Orne Harbour, our first continental landing on mainland Antarctica!!! Of course, all our activities have been on the Antarctica continent, but there is something special about stepping foot on the mainland.
It was a sunny, with a mild breeze. We posed with a flag of Antarctica, an exciting moment for people who were visiting their seventh continent. We then made our way up the zig-zag slope to a very scenic chinstrap penguin colony at the top of the hill. There were plenty of chicks still, little chunky grey blobs with their parents taking care of them. Some of them were quite big and were already moulting into their adult plumage, and we enjoyed witnessing their daily activities and interactions.
While returning to the ship, we encountered two magnificent whales surfacing, just near the landing site! Adding to the days already impressive wildlife sightings.
In the evening Sara began the daily recap session, discussing the day's highlights. But Recap was momentarily interrupted by the thrilling appearance of orcas nearby!! Capturing everyone's attention and providing a mass stampede out of the bar. We watched the pod of around nine individuals, including males, females, and juveniles, swimming and spy-hopping. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary day of exploration.
Overall, today's experiences in both Foyn Harbour and Orne Harbour showcased the incredible diversity and beauty of Antarctic wildlife, leaving us in awe of nature's wonders.