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Antarctic Peninsula: Close-up of iceberg off Brown Bluff

Antarctica: Brown Bluff
February 2024

Orcas, Antarctica

 

A huge pod of orcas and a visit to Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula to see colonies of Gentoo and Adelie Penguins.

Antarctic Peninsula sushi for lunch
Sushi lunchtime special on board.

 

 

After the wonderful excursion to Paulet Island we returned to the ship for lunch - memorably with a fantastic array of sushi on offer - and a Glenlivet while sitting out on deck in glorious sunshine watching passengers do the Polar Plunge. I'd been a bit reticent about doing this but seeing quite old and infirm passengers jump into the ice cold sea and surviving, I think I'd give it a go next time!

 

Antarctica
on board

 

We were on our way to Brown Bluff, a volcanic feature on the Antarctic mainland.

Antarctica
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Again we were sailing through seas covered in icebergs and also with a lot of brash.

Antarctica orcas
Orcas
Antarctica orcas

 

 

 

We saw a huge pod of orcas, Dany, the marine biologist on board, said there were at least 30 members, the largest pod he'd seen on any Quark expedition!

 

Antarctica orcas
This male has a large hole in his dorsal fin.

 

 

 

 

These are brownish in colour, unlike the black and white ones we'd seen elsewhere. The colour is due to diatoms on their skin.

Antarctica orcas
Four females.
Antarctica orcas
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Antarctica orcas

 

 

 

Orcas, or killer whales as they are known, are, in fact, the largest member of the dolphin family, though both whales and dolphins are classed as cetaceans, which also includes porpoises. The main difference between whales and dolphins seems to be size.

Antarctica orcas
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Courtesy of Keith Thompson, photographer with Quark Expeditions.
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Barbecue on board!
Antarctica

Before arriving at Brown Bluff we had a very good barbecue on deck.

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Guides setting out to check the landing area.
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Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
A young Gentoo Penguin.

Brown Bluff is home to lots of Gentoo and Adelie Penguins.

Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins

Gentoos are very distinctive having an orange beak, a white strap over the head and a prominent fan-shaped tail.1

Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins

 

Antarctica
Antarctica Brown Bluff Snowy Sheathbill
Snowy Sheathbill
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Penguins feed their chicks regurgitated food which is already partly digested.
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins

Gentoos generally have two chicks and like all penguins they feed them with partly digested regurgitated food. Both parents look after the chicks and feed them. Their main food source is krill.1

Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Fur Seal
Fur Seal
Antarctica Brown Bluff Kelp Gull
Kelp Gull
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff Gentoo Penguins
Gentoo chicks must chase a parent in order to be fed. This behaviour is thought to build up the chick's strength and also to encourage them closer to the sea in preparation for entering it themselves.
Antarctica Brown Bluff
A very young chick.
Antarctica Brown Bluff Adelie Penguins
Adelie Penguins

 

Adelie Penguins have black heads and backs, a white front and a white rim to the eyes.

Antarctica Brown Bluff Adelie Penguins
Antarctica Brown Bluff
Ice, Brown Bluff behind.
Antarctica Brown Bluff
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

Before returning to the ship we cruised around the bay in the Zodiacs as the sun went down, getting close-ups of the icebergs and glaciers.

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

The ice had the most beautiful textures, rippled and stippled on the surface.

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

 

 

The sea was flat calm and the light very soft as the sun went down.

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Courtesy of Keith Thompson,
photographer with Quark Expeditions.
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Courtesy of Keith Thompson, photographer with Quark Expeditions.





Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Lenticular clouds.
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

 

 

 

 

We went closer into the shore where a huge glacier met the sea. Its high, vertically cracked edge was ready to calve in a few places.

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs
Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

 

 

 

 

Hot mulled wine back on board. A great day.

Antarctica Brown Bluff icebergs

 

References

  1. British Antarctic Survey: Penguins