Early morning found National Geographic Explorer closing in
on the South Orkney Islands. Mist and tabular icebergs obscured our view as we
approached, the wind and the sea still quite lively! Finally, our destination was
within reach: Coronation Island!
A day at sea offered chances for
reflection and interesting conversation with shipmates, as well as the time to decontaminate
our expedition gear before landing in a new area. Our afternoon and early
evening were spent hiking and exploring Shingle Cove, a small, cobblestone beach
that leads to Adélie penguin breeding colonies along an exposed ridgeline above
the water.
We watched the Adélie and gentoo penguins’ antics. While they seemed almost humanly comical in their actions, securing a life for themselves and their chicks is serious business indeed. The Adélie is the sixth species of penguin we encountered on our expedition. Watching them come and go, in and out of the sea, reminded us that penguins really do fly—in the water, not in the air!
