At sea, Falkland Islands to South Georgia
After departing from the Falkland Islands yesterday evening, the day dawned cold and grey over the South Atlantic Ocean as the Endeavour steamed east, bound for South Georgia, a distance of some 700 nautical miles from the Falkland Islands.
The ocean passage was enlivened by watching for seabirds and marine mammals. Several dolphins were sighted during the day and albatrosses and petrels were our constant companions. The highlight of the day for many was the sighting of both wandering (pictured above) and royal albatrosses. These birds have the largest wingspan of any living bird, at a little over three metres. The wandering albatrosses seen today were probably from the breeding population on South Georgia, while the royal albatross breeds only in New Zealand. These birds have completed roughly half of their circumpolar flight in these waters and are about 3,000 miles from their home. An assortment of other seabirds including white-chinned petrels and soft-plumaged petrels were also seen during the day.
In addition to the seabirds and marine mammals, we were also entertained during the day by a series of presentations from our naturalists. Tom Smith gave us an introduction to whales and dolphins and Harold Stowell presented an introduction to Antarctic geology.
After another fine dinner from our excellent galley with good company, we retired to our beds to await the second day of our ocean passage. Who knows what seabirds or marine mammals will brighten the day?
After departing from the Falkland Islands yesterday evening, the day dawned cold and grey over the South Atlantic Ocean as the Endeavour steamed east, bound for South Georgia, a distance of some 700 nautical miles from the Falkland Islands.
The ocean passage was enlivened by watching for seabirds and marine mammals. Several dolphins were sighted during the day and albatrosses and petrels were our constant companions. The highlight of the day for many was the sighting of both wandering (pictured above) and royal albatrosses. These birds have the largest wingspan of any living bird, at a little over three metres. The wandering albatrosses seen today were probably from the breeding population on South Georgia, while the royal albatross breeds only in New Zealand. These birds have completed roughly half of their circumpolar flight in these waters and are about 3,000 miles from their home. An assortment of other seabirds including white-chinned petrels and soft-plumaged petrels were also seen during the day.
In addition to the seabirds and marine mammals, we were also entertained during the day by a series of presentations from our naturalists. Tom Smith gave us an introduction to whales and dolphins and Harold Stowell presented an introduction to Antarctic geology.
After another fine dinner from our excellent galley with good company, we retired to our beds to await the second day of our ocean passage. Who knows what seabirds or marine mammals will brighten the day?
