INTO THE WEDDELL SEA

 020622 Weddell Sea

We sailed through the night and into the morning and to the Weddell Sea.

Here we made our first landing on Heroina Island. Here we met the Adelie Penguin as we cruised along in Zodiacs. While the sea was a bit foggy and we did loose sight of the ship. As we cruised along we were greeted by Fur Seals and a Leopard Seal.  Then in a protected bay we made a landing where the beach was shared by Adelie Penguins and Fur Seals.  It was fun to observe the molting chicks chase their parents for a meal. This is a technique used to teach the chicks they need to chase their pray for food. They were learning this lesson very well. 

 

 


After lunch our second landing was on Paulet Island. As we approached this island we were greeted by Adelie Penguins in the water porpoising as they swam along. Then we hear see and smell the island. The Island is covered and I mean cover with penguins as far as the eye can see. About 200,000 give or take a few. Here on the Paulet Island we also find a Blue Eyed Shag Colony, evidence of volcanic activity and the remains of a hut built by early Swedish Antarctic Expedition members who were stranded on the Island in the Winter of 1903.