Today was, more than anything, the great king penguin day! A good number of early risers who had responded to Expedition Leader Peter Wilson´s wake-up call at 4:45 a.m. were set ashore on Gold Harbour. The weather was overcast with a light snowfall. This site is one of South Georgia´s most spectacular landing spots and resembles an amphitheater, with a wide, flat beach framed by lush slopes, steep rocks, and a glacier. The beach is home to a large colony of king penguins, fur seals, and elephant seals. Those who got up at normal wake-up time were shuttled to the beach just after breakfast, and we all spent the morning ashore.
As we sailed toward our next stop, naturalist Hannah Kriesell gave an intriguing presentation on king penguins, the great stars of the day. We then landed at St. Andrews Bay—by far the largest colony of king penguins on South Georgia. Due to the swell, guests were set ashore on the most sheltered part of the beach and were guided across a river toward the central part of the colony. What an incredible day!
