Danco Bay, 2/9/2022, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Antarctica
This day marked our first foray into Antarctica. As we woke, we saw nothing but fog around us, masking the landscape from our view. But as we pulled into Danco Bay, the fog lifted. The majesty of Antarctica was revealed to us, including its denizens, the gentoo penguins that call this bay home.
Kayvon Malek is an underwater videographer whose work as an expedition guide and in the wildlife documentary industry have taken him pole to pole. After taking a scuba course on a whim in college, Kayvon’s newfound obsession led him to working as a r...
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We arrived in the morning at the beautiful Saunders Island, home to the family of Expedition Leader Russ. It is always very special to visit this island, and the welcome we get is absolutely amazing. Today we visited the settlement and got a tour of the farm. The working dogs of the island met us on the beach and gladly joined our Zodiacs for a tour around the bay, happily barking at the many Commerson’s dolphins playing around us. In the afternoon we tried to go to the rookery on the other side of the island for a chance to see rockhopper penguins and black-browed albatross. The weather was not on our side, and halfway through the landing operation we decided to change our plans. It was an adventurous Zodiac ride back to the ship and the joy of being greeted with a warm beverage from our bar team was enormous.
Light winds and calm waters greeted us as National Geographic Endurance entered Port Stanley this morning. We disembarked after a breakfast, and the Zodiacs brought us ashore, where morning excursions awaited. Some of us enjoyed a visit to Fitzroy Farm, while others took a tour of local highlights. Some guests enjoyed a walk through town for some shopping. The streets were peppered with spectators and colorful runners for the annual local marathon. The afternoon offered the option of a second excursion, including one to Gypsy Cove. Detailed stories from local guides related eyewitness accounts that could never be found in books. After a long day, the winds picked up, and it was time for an exciting Zodiac ride back to the ship for a very special dinner. If that wasn’t enough, the evening’s entertainment was a local band brought on board by our ever so able and creative expedition leader. We could not have hoped for a better end to such a full day.
Despite the stiff breeze, we were able to land on one of the southernmost islands in the Falkland Islands: Barren Island. With dozens of South American sea lion harems and hundreds of southern giant petrel chicks, we had plenty to see and photograph on shore. The afternoon was spent ship-cruising Falkland Sound, watching sei whales and flocks of feeding Magellanic penguins.
