Antarctica.

[drron]

Back to the Macca pictures.First the elephant seals-

 

[drron]

More seals-

And then the scenery-

 

[docjames]

Great TR, i've been following it - sounds just amazing.

Prompted to post to say those seal shots are amazing - look like something from National Geographic!

 

[drron]

So some more of the scenery.

 

[albatross710]

Back to the Macca pictures.First the elephant seals-

A recent book that I read in which the author visited Macquairie Island the author gave the stats about the amount of rain and wind on the island over the year. Looks like you scored a rare good day.

In this seal picture can you explain the background to the net or fence or whatever that little guy is grapplig with.

Alby

 

[drron]

Actually that is not such a little guy though not full size-just the angle the photo is taken.Actually it is just lying in the tussock grass.Fences have been built at various places to try and keep the elephant seals out-this one was to protect an area used to store things during the feral cat eradication and the trial baiting of rabbits.As you can see it was not elephant seal proof.The big males crawl up,raise themselves high on their tails and just come crashing down on the fence.
Now for some of the history.Initially Macquarie Island was used by sealers-when they wiped them out they turned to getting oil from penguins blubber-threw them in the pot and boiled them down.

As time went on they got bigger pots.

A lot of stuff from times past.

The main base-we had great scones,jam and cream in the canteen-

And the tag got a run too-

Including the rare Macquarie Island duck-only saw one-

Next comes the penguin parade.

 

[drron]

I could not get enough of the penguins,just wonderful.Particularly on Macca they would just come up to you and check you out.The Gentoos were a bit circumspect and the Rockhoppers keep to themselves on steep slopes.the king penguins did check you out but a bit stand offish.The royals though were really inquisitive and would come right up to you.just looked great with their tuft of yellow hair.so prepare to be bored.First the King penguins-the first group we saw

a couple come and check you out-

The group may then come up but soon lose interest-

Then there was the group who had taken up residence in the middle of the base-

There was another waddle as we went to go back to the zodiacs(yes a group of penguins not nesting is a waddle)-

This was our morning experience.back to the Orion and we enjoyed lunch on the back deck in glorious sunshine-

That was our morning-it got much better in the afternoon,that next.

 

[drron]

After lunch it was back in the zodiac and a landing on Sandy Bay.A welcoming committee of king penguins-

And boy were there a lot of them-

I walked to the King penguin rookery.There were 1 year old chicks molting and several adults were holding eggs on their feet-

We had to stop at a rope.Once again a delegation was sent out to look me over-

They got close-

But once again after looking me up and down they turned and walked off-

Still some more king penguins to go.

 

[Major]

A
Including the rare Macquarie Island duck-only saw one-

N.[/QUOTE]

Actually it's a LARC V

 

[drron]

Leaving the King penguin rookery I found the cause of a lot of problems on Macca.He wasn't very frightened-

Then there was this rather thin fellow just finishing molting-

At the other end of the bay was another king penguin rookery-

Then there was this fellow who appeared to be supervising the crew as we prepared to get back into the zodiacs-

Next the Royal penguins,my favourites.

 

[drron]

The Royal penguins are just cute,really inquisitive and seem to have a greater variability of personalities.They also impressed me because if there was a group of us the Royals would usually pick me out for special attention.I thought they showed a remarkable sense of character.The first group we saw came up to our group,several of us sat down and here is what happened-first from my perspective-

and then by mrsdrron-

A skua is already taking an interest in my left boot.

so the Royals investigate.

And have a go at my right boot.

And here is the perpetrator about to lunge.

 

[drron]

The group then went and checked out mrsdrron-

Then wandered back to the shore-

Another group came up to mrsdrron-

As we waited to go back to the ship for lunch there were some Gentoos-not nearly as inquisitive-

Once again the afternoon was going to be much more spectacular.That next.

 

[KLN]

omg!
i can't for tomorrow drron.
stop holding us all in suspense.

 

[drron]

Once again the Royals were inquisitive.In no way was the 5 metre rule going to be kept

 

[drron]

next-thousands of penguins.

 

[drron]

We went up a new walkway.Good views.Evidence of Skuas having fed on penguin eggs.Nesting Giant Petrels.Then the Royal penguin rookery,simply amazing,though some odour as well.

A Creche.

Feeding time.

 

[drron]

Well a few more of these adorable Royal penguins.the last of them i promise.First it was a good day for a swim-

Though others that had had their fill-

And this little guy wanted every possible angle for his assessment-you may recognise him from another place and another name-

 

[drron]

Now for the flying birds of Macca.The most notable are the Skuas and Giant petrels.This Skua got very close-they are not afraid.

The Petrels though are much more shy and take off as you approach.They have learnt though to take rabbits and one pax got a great shot of a Petrel flying off with a rabbit.However they require a fair distance to take off and the staff at Macca have seen one surrounded by penguins who couldn't take off and pecked to death.They are so graceful in flight.

And the Skuas keeping watch over the large penguin rookery-if a young chick or egg is left unprotected the Skuas swoop-

 

[drron]

Of course nature can be cruel as well-

Drron with a seal skull.
Definitely not a seal vertebra.

And another creature who didn't make it.

Coconut shell on the beach-global warming must be here

But what surprised me was how many penguins we saw swimming around the boat-

 

[awilcockson]

Great TR. I am extremely envious, I only wish there was ever a chance I'd have enough money to do this trip.