Wind and waves
hampered our progress last night, and so the landing this morning was a little
delayed - start at 8 instead of 7 o´clock - a circumstance that probably a
majority of people on board FRAM had no hard feelings about...
We spent a wonderful
morning at New Island! The sun was out most of the time, but the wind chased
some dark clouds over the sky and this dressed the natural rock amphitheatre,
in which the black-browed albatross, blue-eyed shags and rockhopper penguins breed,
in a dramatic light. We strolled along the upper edge of this theatre that
offered fantastic views and photo opportunities down onto the animals.
Actually, only the albatross and shags were still tending their chicks; the
offspring of the rockhoppers had already left for a self-sustained life, but
the parents remained a few days longer to complete their annual moult.
The wind did not cease
during lunchtime. Coming from a south-westerly direction it blew right onto our
designated landing site for this afternoon at Carcass Island. A short look into
the bay was enough to convince ourselves that no landing would be feasible at
this spot this afternoon. We therefore fixed an alternative program and sailed
to Westpoint Island instead. The sheltered bay there provided excellent landing
conditions. In a two kilometer walk, we crossed the island to visit another
stunning rockhopper penguin and black-browed albatross colony facing the sea at
the exposed side of the island. Those who were not in for such a long hike
could get a lift with a land rover directly to the colony, or just spend time
at a white sandy beach close to the landing site together with some Magellanic
penguins.
Back on board
everybody enjoyed the fantastic Philippino buffett, one of the favourites of
the expedition staff and guests on board!
