Paulet Island and Tay Head, 1/23/2023, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
Today was our last day of exploration in the Weddell Sea. We were lucky enough to take a Zodiac cruise around Paulet Island, where the Nordenskjold expedition was stranded with a cat. Later, we went to Tay Head, a beautiful area where we took hikes of various lengths and enjoyed lots of wildlife, including elephant seals, fur seals, Weddell seals, a colony of Adélie penguins, and a juvenile emperor penguin! Today was certainly a great day!
Javier 's passion for birds and nature began as a child exploring the Pyrenees mountains with his father. The mystery that surrounds the Lammergeier silhouette triggered his curiosity and interest towards wildlife. Javier studied biology in Spain and...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
Our day started with mirror-calm waters and still air as we transited through the steep-walled Lemaire Channel. Guests zoomed around the ship before breakfast, taking photos of the reflections and passing icebergs. Our morning stop was at the history-laden Petermann Island where guests watched nesting Antarctic shags, gentoo penguin chicks, and learned about the numerous stories from days gone by. While everyone was ashore, the undersea team went for a dive on one of the vertical underwater walls of Petermann Island. We encountered several species of sea slugs and sea spiders while exploring the steep wall. In the afternoon, the ship weaved its way through massive icebergs to the Berthelot Islands where we spent a marvelous afternoon cruising by Zodiac. Many guests got to see whales up close, and some immersed themselves in Antarctica on a “Contemplative Zodiac Cruise”. Guests spent time drawing and painting among the abstract ice forms and beautiful Antarctic light.
This morning, National Geographic Resolution woke to a blanket of fresh snow, setting a serene tone for our day. We arrived at Cierva Cove where we launched our Zodiacs for a thrilling exploration among the floating ice. The cove’s tranquil waters offered a perfect setting for close encounters with seals who basked lazily on the ice floes, undisturbed by our presence. In the afternoon, we navigated through the stunning Graham Passage. Our thanks go out to the exceptional bridge team for their skillful navigation. As we continued, we made our way into the Gerlache Strait where we were fortunate enough to spot several whales feeding on krill. These graceful giants were lunge feeding, taking massive bites of water to get as many krill as possible. The grand finale came after dinner when we had a small pod of killer whales surround our ship. These apex hunters of the sea are always a treasure to find. The day was filled with unforgettable moments of discovery, and it was a privilege to witness such wildlife in their natural habitat. It was another incredible expedition day on National Geographic Resolution , one that will stay with us as we continue our journey through Antarctica’s awe-inspiring landscapes.
The calm, foggy waters of the Drake Passage unveiled a fantastic view of the South Shetland Islands early this morning. Our first massive icebergs, whales, penguins, and seals bobbed about in the glassy waters. What an introduction to Antarctica and its wonders! Our first landing of the expedition could not have been better. Sunny skies and grand views of glaciers caught everyone’s attention as much as the hundreds of chinstrap and gentoo penguins going about their business, as if we were not there at all. What a magical place!
