Colin, Passenger
Anchored overnight in Cuverville. Boarded the Zodiacs after breakfast. The Black Zodiac took a trip around the bay: sighting hump-back, mother and juvenile. They were sleeping or resting and the boat shut off the engine and waited. The young one carne over to the Zodiac for a look. lt called to the mother who carne over. lt swam around and under the boat to the delight of the group onboard.
The boat continued their tour around the bay, spending some time watching the penguin “‘porpoising” through the water and the activity at the Gentoo colony.
The Red Zodiac headed for shore and the Gentoo colony, sighting a Leopard Seal on the ice enroute.
Once ashore the group headed up the hill on Danco lsland; starting at the site of the former British Base O, built by the Falkland Dependencies Survey from 1956- 59. The buildings were dismantled in 2004.
The adult penguins were starting their annual moult and the juvenile were socialising together; some starting to fledge and shedding their ‘baby fur’.
After 2hrs ashore the groups headed back for Hans Hansson. Zodiacs were quickly recovered followed by up-anchor and setting a course further south for Port Lockroy Post Office.
During the transit there were good sightings of Hump-back whales and photos were uploaded to the Happy Whale website for the whale research programme. The weather closed in with visibility about 700m, making for a limited view of the scenery as we sailed through the Neumeyer passage.
Arrived early at Port Lockroy, and snowfall was moderately heavy. Zodiacs were launched and we proceeded to the landing point; carrying some Mail for the Post Office. On arrival we disembarked and walked up the short path to the island’s buildings, including a gift shop and museum. Being a small group we could wander around at our leisure, finding out about the history and scientific activities since Operation Tabarin in 1943 during WW2.
Photographing penguins in the snow was challenging as we slowly picked our way through the penguin and back down the stone pathway to the Zodiacs.
Mailbags were loaded, bound for the Falkland lslands and their onward RAF flight to the UK.
After a 5 minute boat transfer we were back aboard the boat. We changed out of our wet gear, then had “tea and stickies” in the saloon. Becky opened the bar an hour later, for pre-dinner aperitifs.
written by Colin, Gentoo photo by Philippa
