At sea, Ducie Atoll to Easter Island
Noon position: 25º 31.9’S 119º 19.0’W
Today is the first of two full days at sea, traveling the 800 or so nautical miles between Ducie Island and our next, and final, port of call, Easter Island. During the day we are entertained by a series of presentations from the on board staff. Or we entertained ourselves in a variety of ways; reading, catching up with journals or editing digital images or simply relaxing and doing little other than reflecting on the voyage so far.
Anytime the National Geographic Endeavour is at sea, observers on the bridge keep a watch for wildlife and today is no exception. Flying fish are spotted as they take to the air to flee at the approach of the ship but seabirds are few and far between, a remarkable contrast with the abundance of yesterday around Ducie Atoll. These open oceanic expanses are the domain of petrels and today four species are sighted. Not surprisingly this included several Murphy’s petrels. This is now a familiar bird to us after the seabird spectacle of Ducie where an estimated 250,000 pairs of Murphy’s petrels breed; the majority of the world population.
Tomorrow will be another day at sea, another chance to prepare for our arrival in Easter Island and another day to fully understand the scale of this part of the South Pacific and the remoteness of the islands we are fortunate to be visiting.
Noon position: 25º 31.9’S 119º 19.0’W
Today is the first of two full days at sea, traveling the 800 or so nautical miles between Ducie Island and our next, and final, port of call, Easter Island. During the day we are entertained by a series of presentations from the on board staff. Or we entertained ourselves in a variety of ways; reading, catching up with journals or editing digital images or simply relaxing and doing little other than reflecting on the voyage so far.
Anytime the National Geographic Endeavour is at sea, observers on the bridge keep a watch for wildlife and today is no exception. Flying fish are spotted as they take to the air to flee at the approach of the ship but seabirds are few and far between, a remarkable contrast with the abundance of yesterday around Ducie Atoll. These open oceanic expanses are the domain of petrels and today four species are sighted. Not surprisingly this included several Murphy’s petrels. This is now a familiar bird to us after the seabird spectacle of Ducie where an estimated 250,000 pairs of Murphy’s petrels breed; the majority of the world population.
Tomorrow will be another day at sea, another chance to prepare for our arrival in Easter Island and another day to fully understand the scale of this part of the South Pacific and the remoteness of the islands we are fortunate to be visiting.
