Neko Harbour & Port Lockroy (64°49’S, 63°29’W – our southern-most point) & Wilhelmina Bay
We travelled roughly 22 km overnight from Paradise Bay to Neko Harbour. We awoke at first light in the wee hours of the morning to find ourselves surrounded by glaciers, icebergs and rocky outcrops. Our pre-breakfast landing found us once again on the Antarctic continent surrounded by Gentoo penguins. Three groups were formed to collect data on seal and penguin counts and penguin behaviour. Some of us had an incredible encounter with a Weddell seal while others observed feeding behaviour of parent penguins and chicks while overlooking a calving glacier.
After lunch and a scenic cruise through the Neumayer Channel, we arrived at Port Lockroy and Jougla Point (aka Guano Island). Once again we were counting penguins and practicing our observational and data collection techniques, only this time in the driving rain (that’s dedication!!). After the previous days of sunshine and blue skies we were back in British territory at Port Lockroy with the familiar rain and blustery winds. After a short souvenir stop and a bit of time travel in the Lockroy station museum, we were back on board headed north in the Gerlache Strait. In the evening we entered Wilhelmina Bay surrounded by humpback whales and blue skies.
The entire group remained on the bridge well through dinner (some of us gobbled some left over food out on deck, too keen to leave our lofty observation posts) to identify, count and document the plethora of marine mammals. A long day’s journey ended with two humpback whales crossing the bow at sunset, and the last humpback of the day fluked under a giant moon rising above snow-covered peaks. Life doesn’t get much better than this!
Amy (MRes MMS)
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