Antarctica -- October-November 2010

Petermann Island. This isn't a great photo, but it's the best one I have that shows something of the variety of birds on this rock outcrop next on the shoreline, This point had cormorants, Gentoo Penguins, Adelie Penguins, and (if I remember correctly) two Chinstrip Penguins, all within a region perhaps 25 feet across. The next five photos (following this one) were also taken in this area.

Most of the birds on the left, nearest the snow, are Gentoo Penguins (with the white spots on their heads), There are three cormorant nests in this photo (all built on little pedistals) -- a male (I think) is feeding a female sitting on the center nest. The cormorants have more elongated necks than penguins -- and they can fly.

The penguins closest to the center of the photo, and those on the right are Adelie Penguins (no white spot on their heads). I did not get the Chinstraps in this photo.

My understanding is that the proper name for these cormorants is Antarctic Shag.

I'm almost certain this spot was the only place we saw these three types of Antarctic pegnuins so close together (and the only place I remember where we say Antarctic Shags nesting).

A photo I should have taken (but did think of it) was that perhaps 20-25 people were standing beside me as I took this photo. We were a lot more interested in these birds than they were in us.

I was not 100% centain of the directions north, south, east, and west while I was actually on this island (the ship approached the island from the north, but may have had to maneuver a bit to get close to the landing point. However, my best guess is that this cluster of birds was at the farthest south point I was at while walking on the island. Thus, this photo (along with the five that follow it) was taken at the farthest south I have ever been -- and almist certainly ever will be. This was roughly one degree north of the Antarctic Circle.

(28 Nov 2010)