A huge pod of orcas and a visit to Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula to see colonies of Gentoo and Adelie Penguins.
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!
We were on our way to Brown Bluff, a volcanic feature on the Antarctic mainland.
Again we were sailing through seas covered in icebergs and also with a lot of brash.
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!
These are brownish in colour, unlike the black and white ones we'd seen elsewhere. The colour is due to diatoms on their skin.
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.
Before arriving at Brown Bluff we had a very good barbecue on deck.
Brown Bluff is home to lots of Gentoo and Adelie Penguins.
Gentoos are very distinctive having an orange beak, a white strap over the head and a prominent fan-shaped tail.1
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
Adelie Penguins have black heads and backs, a white front and a white rim to the eyes.
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.
The ice had the most beautiful textures, rippled and stippled on the surface.
The sea was flat calm and the light very soft as the sun went down.
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.
Hot mulled wine back on board. A great day.