Antarctic expedition Dec. '22 - Jan. '23. Part 6

Continuing the numbering from Part 5.

This next landing at St.Andrew's Bay, site of another huge King penguin rookery as well as a beach where Elephant seals come to lie while they are moulting and shedding their old skins each summer.

61. Overview, setting shot. All that white stuff on the beach is moulted King penguin feathers.
St.Andrews Bay by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

62. Here the majority of the King penguins in moult were lining the banks of glacial meltwater streams that seem to be soothing to a degree, carry away some of the the shed feathers, and provide drinking water that's the penguins only dietary intake until their new feathers emerge fully waterproof.
King penguins lining glacial river, St.Andrews Bay by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

63. All the way back to the glacier.
Glacier and stream with King penguins by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

64. A wide view of the above.
King penguins, St.Andrews Bay by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

65. And all the way to the beach outflow.
Moulting King penguins on river banks by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

66. A couple of Kings escorting a Gentoo off the premises.
King penguins escorting a Gentoo off the premises by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

67. Beach littered with moulting Elephant seals.
Elephant seals and King penguins, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

68. That the King penguins have to navigate their way through.
King penguins marching past moulting Elephant seals, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

69. A face only a mother could love.
Moulting Elephant seals, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

70. Elephant seals, King penguins, mountains and glaciers. The only things missing here are the intense smell, and the animal noises.
Kings and Elephants sharing the beach, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

71. King penguins on the beach with the 'Greg Mortimer' moored off shore.
King penguins and 'Greg Mortimer' ship, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

72. A Gentoo penguin striding out.
Gentoo on the march, Gold Harbour by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

Part 6 chapter 2 following straight on.






Edited by Jozioau - 17 February 2023 at 07:16

Great work Joe. I can never get enough from penguin shots, they look so cute. The seals look nice too, but i wouldn't get near one..
TFS   

Alan, I just recently watched David Attenborough's "The Penguin King" on ABC TV, as well as its companion program "The making of the Penguin King". Made about 2 years ago and just now repeated here free to air and also viewable for a time on their streaming service iView. Most interesting to see both of them, starring the wildlife of South Georgia, and hard to believe our expedition were in that very spot and amongst it all only a few weeks ago.

We were briefed about how to deal with fur seals. They can come at you, and often make threatening noises or gestures as you come near. You have to stand your ground and make yourself look big - stand upright and possibly raise your arms over your head. They will then most likely back off. The worst reaction is to run away as they will then give chase and take a nip out of you. They move very fast.

As for Elephant seals, just give them a big berth.

Stefano,
As I mentioned, we were instructed how to react to fur seals, and I did witness a few encounters where a seal would advance or lunge to make an threat towards an expeditioner, but in all cases when they stood their ground and held an arm up against the seal it would back down. I think there was one instance where someone turned and walked away and a seal took a nip at the back of a boot, but I didn't see it, and no harm was done. Those muck boots are very thick and strong.

Fascinating set Joe!