Ding-dong! The early morning bell sounded throughout National Geographic Orion as our expedition leader, Shaun Powell, gently announced that we had reached our first landing site, New Island! A few cups of coffee and early morning pastries helped us perk up for a simply stunning encounter with nesting seabirds while the sun was beginning to rise into the clouds above. Upland geese and goslings welcomed us to soft, sandy beach as our Zodiacs cruised alongside the abandoned wreck of The Protector. Thick pedestals of tussac grass lined our path to a breathtaking scene of blue-eyed shags, rock hopper penguins, and the ever gracefully gliding black-browed albatross. Pairs of penguins nuzzled each other, cleaned their black and white plumage, bellowed charismatic calls, and made quite a stink! Some nesting black-browed albatross even exposed their single, speckled eggs from beneath for a few lucky photographers that were able to snap the shot. It was difficult to leave such an amazing expanse of feathered fauna, yet exploring the eastern islands within the Falkland Archipelago and warm cups of hot cocoa beckoned us back onboard.
En route to Little Bense, our naturalist Dr. Peter Carey, introduced us to his local conservation efforts to restore the island back to its natural state via invasive species eradication. Conservation in this windy, remote area during the winter is no easy feat! Dr. Carey’s commitment to research and restoration will ideally rid the islands of Bense and Little Bense from the invasive rats, mice, and rabbits by next year. We are especially fortunate to be able to visit these very islands via Zodiac tours this afternoon as we explored the deep crevices and rocky intertidal areas. Along the angled slabs of quartzite coast, a medley of wildlife displayed quite the show. From Peale’s dolphins playing amidst our Zodiacs with joyous abandon, to a South American sea lion mum and pup hauled out to catch glimpses of sunshine, and all kinds of seabirds such as kelp geese, flightless steamer ducks, and sheathbills.
Utilizing every moment in this region, we steamed ahead to the protected coast of Saunders for our last landing. Our dive team, undersea specialist Erin McFadden and myself, dove into the productive waters here to explore the underwater world while the rest of our group opted to visit the gentoo and king penguins, Minke whale skeletal remains, and the terrestrial side of the island. It was certainly a fun-filled day that was just the beginning to our unforgettable voyage as we continue towards South Georgia.
Live on Facebook!
Following this South Georgia & the Falklands expedition? Get a live look at where our guests are exploring. We’ll be broadcasting live on Facebook from the Falklands on Friday, October 28th and live from South Georgia in the first few days of November. Follow Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic on Facebook to watch.
