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Gentoo Penguin Breeding Colony, Godthul, South Georgia

Antarctica: South Georgia - Bay of Isles, Godthul
February 2024

Bay Of Isles Godthul
King Penguins, Godthul, South Georgia

 

Plenty of icebergs, King Penguins and a wonderful breeding colony of Gentoo Penguins.

Bay of Isles

South Georgia

On our fourth day out of Ushuaia, after crossing a sometimes stormy Scotia Sea, we arrived at South Georgia.

South Georgia
North coast of South Georgia
South Georgia
Antarctic Fur Seals
South Georgia
South Georgia
Northern and Southern Giant Petrels
South Georgia Glacier
South Georgia Glacier
Northern Giant Petrel
Northern Giant Petrel
South Georgia King Penguins Antarctic Fur Seals
King Penguins and Antarctic Fur Seals.

 

The north coast is littered with glaciers reaching down to the shore.

South Georgia Glacier
South Georgia Glacier

 

We were making good time so in the afternoon the ship went deep into the Bay of Isles on the north coast, where there are three colonies of King Penguins.

South Georgia King Penguins
King Penguins

As this was an added extra there was no Zodiac tour but these were our first sightings of Antarctic penguins en masse, and King Penguins at that, the second largest species after the Emperors.

There were also many Antarctic Fur Seals and a number of Southern Elephant Seals.

South Georgia King Penguins Antarctic Fur Seals Southern Elephant Seals
King Penguins, Antarctic Fur Seals and large brown Southern Elephant Seals (there is actually a penguin standing on one of them!).
South Georgia Cormorant
South Georgia Cormorant

 

 

The third King Penguin colony that we visited, on Salisbury Plain, has 60,000 birds.

Just as we were exiting the bay I saw two orcas - Killer Whales - through our cabin window, but by the time I got back outside they'd gone.

South Georgia Salisbury Plain King Penguin colony
The King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain.
The middle ground (the pale brown area) and the bare patches on the hillside were a solid mass of penguins.
South Georgia

Late afternoon we left the bay to sail down the east coast to Godthul.

South Georgia
South Georgia

 

 

 

The cloud cover was quite low so it was a little difficult to photograph some of the impressive landscapes we passed.

Deep snow covering the hills and upper reaches, black rock mountains rising high above the coastal region which was a mixture of mountains dropping straight into the sea and lower, green, cliff-edged hills.

 

 

South Georgia
South Georgia
South Georgia
South Georgia

 

Godthul

South Georgia iceberg

 

The following morning we were off Godthul, midway down the east coast of South Georgia, on a beautiful morning. There were icebergs everywhere.

South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg

After breakfast we got into the Zodiacs for a cruise around the bay, around 90 minutes looking at the icebergs, seabirds, elephant and fur seals and penguins, including King Penguins.

South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia giant petrels
Giant Petrels
South Georgia giant petrel
South Georgia giant petrels

 

 

South Georgia Cormorant
South Georgia Cormorant
Antractic Fur Seal
Antarctic Fur Seal
Antractic Fur Seals
Antarctic Fur Seals
Kelp Gulls
Kelp Gulls
South Georgia
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's Storm Petrel
South Georgia
South Georgia Cormorants
South Georgia Cormorants, adults and young with fluffy brown downy covering.
South Georgia Snowy Sheathbill
Snowy Sheathbill
South Georgia Cormorant
South Georgia Cormorant
South Georgia iceberg
South Georgia King Penguins
King Penguins. A Gentoo behind.
Young penguins cannot go into the water until all of the fluffy feathers have been shed - they are not waterproof.
South Georgia Southern Elephant Seals
Southern Elephant Seals -
There were a lot of these close to shore. Not very attractive creatures, but then I'm not a big fan of seals.
South Georgia King Penguins
King Penguins
South Georgia King Penguins Southern Elephant Seals
King Penguins and Southern Elephant Seals
South Georgia King Penguins
King Penguins
South Georgia Southern Elephant Seals Antarctic Fur Seals
Southern Elephant Seals on shore and a bunch of Antarctic Fur Seals mucking about in the water.
South Georgia King Penguins
A lot of grooming going on!
South Georgia King Penguins

 







South Georgia King Penguins
South Georgia Gentoo Penguin
South Georgia Gentoo Penguin Antarctic Fur Seal
Gentoos and fur seals.
South Georgia King Penguins
South Georgia Antarctic Fur Seals
Antarctic Fur Seals
South Georgia penguins and seals
South Georgia gentoo penguins






South Georgia Gentoo Penguin Antarctic Fur Seal
Young Gentoo Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal.

South Georgia Godhul Whaling Depot
Remains of the whaling depot The slopes are covered in tussac grass, essential for nesting and feeding for many bird species.


South Georgia Godhul fur seal
Young fur seal.
South Georgia King Penguins
South Georgia Godthul Bay
Godthul Bay
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony

We made an excellent hike up the tussac-covered slopes to a large colony of breeding Gentoo Penguins. It was steep and difficult on the slope as it was boggy, following the course of a stream through the vegetation. But it was worth it to see the Gentoos.

South Georgia Godthul
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony
South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony

 

South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony

Video: Gentoo Penguin breeding colony, Godthul.

Video: Gentoo Penguin breeding colony, Godthul.

It was very hot, much hotter than we'd expected, and I had far too many clothes on! Back on board I changed into lighter gear and we had a very welcome cold beer as the ship moved off to Stromness Bay.

South Georgia Godthul Gentoo penguin breeding colony