Approaching South Georgia, 1/29/2022, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
Following winds and seas made for a comfortable day as we neared
South Georgia today. Some guests spent quality time on the bow where they
spotted many birds and some fin whales. Albatross and prion numbers increased
as the day progressed. Many of these birds nest on South Georgia. They were our
guides, showing us the way.
Today we finish the transition from Antarctica to South Georgia. We
should awaken tomorrow within sight of the island, and all that awaits. I know
I will be up early to see what the day brings!
Mike learned early on that the best way to escape Ohio was to become a marine biologist. During college at Wittenberg University he attended a semester at Duke University's Marine Lab — that time only confirmed his love for all things oceanic and ma...
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.
Paulet Island was formed by a volcano that erupted beneath an enormous sheet of ice. Now it is the site of the vast Adelie penguin colony that we visited this morning. Our lunch was delayed as we watched a large pod of killer whales near the ship. Our afternoon walks at Tay Head on Joinville Island featured a smaller Adelie penguin colony, Antarctic fur seals, and a glacier. After dinner, the ship cruised very close to huge tabular icebergs – the views were magical.
What an amazing first day in Antarctica! The seas finally calmed down as land came into sight. We spent the afternoon at one of the South Shetland Islands, and we got our first glimpses of Antarctica’s incredible wildlife.
Yesterday evening, National Geographic Explorer quietly departed from the pier in Ushuaia. For a few hours, guests could enjoy beautiful weather and quiet waters of the Beagle Channel. Soon after dinner, we entered open sea of the Drake Strait. The first morning activity was an introduction to the expedition staff and a Zodiac safety briefing. Later in the morning, naturalist Gerard Baker presented a very interesting lecture regarding the birds of the Southern Ocean. In the afternoon, guests had two presentations related to photography. National Geographic certified photo instructor Jim Pfitzer and National Geographic photographer Susan Seubert provided useful instructions for photographing during the expedition to come. Their presentations were followed by breakout sessions for guests with all levels of photography experience. In the evening, guests joined the expedition team in the lounge for cocktails, followed by our first evening recap and a briefing on our plans for the following day. In the late afternoon, guests watched and photographed the magnificent albatrosses and giant petrels flying around the ship. Tomorrow we will see Antarctica and experience our first Antarctic landing!
