South Georgia in Spring

What a fantastic time to be in South Georgia! Perhaps the best time of the year! The wildlife is abundant, and the light is simply magical for photography. Kings, Gentoos, Chinstraps, and Macaronis are all present along the shorelines. Elephant and Fur seals are also plentiful! Wandering albatrosses are welcoming their newly hatched chicks, while the non-breeders are actively engaged in their courtship rituals, practicing a ceremonial dance. Light-mantled, Sooty, and Grey-headed albatrosses are still feeding their fluffy chicks, as are the Giant petrels. We've been fortunate with the weather, finding ourselves in the right place at the right time to succeed in all our landings and zodiac cruises so far.

After successfully landing our ski crossing party at King Haakon Bay, we enjoyed a full day of wonderful experiences in the Bay of Isles. We visited our first King penguin rookery at Salisbury Plain and then observed the Wandering albatrosses at Prion Island under sunny skies and blue horizons, offering a spectacular view. We also hiked on the moraines behind the rookery and embarked on a zodiac cruise where we spotted numerous South Georgia pipits.

In the afternoon, as we arrived at Cooper Bay, the morning mist still lingered over Cooper Island and the bay. But suddenly, it lifted, and we spent the rest of the day with the Macaroni penguins on shore and in the zodiacs, cruising among seals, terns, penguins, and icebergs.

Tomorrow, we will begin our day in Fortuna Bay and reunite with our ski party, who successfully crossed South Georgia and will hike the final stretch of their journey to Stromness.