Antarctic expedition Dec. '22 - Jan. '23. Part 9

Continuing the numbering from Part 8

111. Finally we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula. Our first landing at Brown Bluff, home to large colonies of Gentoo and Adelie penguins.
Our ice strewn landing site with its penguin welcoming committee, and our ship anchored off shore.
Glacial beach, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

112. Gentoos with their white patched heads.
Penguins and ice floes, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

113. Heavy foot traffic along the shoreline, both Adelies and Gentoos, and the large glacier in the background from which all the ice floes would have calved.
Penguin parade, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

114. Both species mingling very comfortably.
Penguin peak hour traffic, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

115. More of our group landing.
Iceberg beach, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

116. The geographic feature that gave Brown Bluff its name. Gentoos nesting on the slopes.
Brown Bluff with Gentoo penguins by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

117. Gentoos build pebble nests and raise pairs of chicks, often from eggs laid and hatched some months apart, and therefore at different stages of growth. They always ensure both are properly fed so the younger chicks aren't disadvantaged by a dominant older sibling.
It is interesting to see the different plumage and appearance of the different penguin chicks. Gentoo chicks looking like mini adults, whereas King chicks are brown fluff balls, and Adelie chicks are charcoal grey fluff balls.
Gentoos on nest, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

118. Marching Adelies.
Adelie penguins on the march, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

119. Pebble nests.
Gentoo penguins and chicks, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

120.
Gentoo adults and chicks, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

121. The age gap chicks that are fairly typical.
Gentoo penguin parent and chicks, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

122. This is Antarctica proper.
Penguins on the march, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

123. Cuteness. The adults lying on their bellies on their nests are incubating their eggs.
Gentoo penguin chick, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

124. They often seem to be in a hurry.
Adelie hurrying, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

125. Another family of parent, older and younger chicks.
Gentoo parent and different age chicks, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

126. Penguins often get up on ice floes to keep away from predators. Leopard seals or Orcas.
Leaving Brown Bluff beach by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

127.
   Icy beach, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

128. Zodiac ride to the glacier face.
Dr Leo driving zodiac by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

129. Back to the mother ship.
Zodiac re-boarding, Brown Bluff by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

More to see in Part 10, Paulet Island.









Edited by Jozioau - 08 March 2023 at 11:58

You have to admire these birds that don't fly. I have a new fondness and admiration for them.
Thank you

The best set of this great series. I really like #111, #112, #113, #117, #121, #123, #124 and #125. I guess it is clear what I like

TFS this series!

Thanks for the comments and feedback.
It was certainly noticeable as we headed south and reached the Antarctic peninsula how much things changed. No green plants - just glaciers, ice, snow and bare rock, ice floes and icebergs in the sea, calved off the many glaciers, colder air temperatures, and different species of penguins that made pebble nests rather than the Kings in South Georgia that incubated their eggs balanced on the males' feet tucked under their special incubation skin folds.

Another great instalment, Joe! I very much like the light in #111 and the calving glacier in #113, and #123 and #125 are just especially cute!

TFS!