Scotia Sea & South Orkney Islands

Tuesday, 25 February 2020

While transiting between Elephant Island and South Georgia Island, we passed the South Orkney Islands, and spent a bit of time at Monroe Island in the far western reaches of Coronation Island.

Before we reached the South Orkneys, fin whales surfaced very near the ship. These huge creatures are the second largest mammal on earth - only the blue whale is larger.

It seems that many of the whales prefer to use the "buddy system".

I included this photo only because I caught a rainbow in the spray.

We encountered a lot of icebergs.

As we approached Coronation Island the blue of the icebergs contrasted with the monochrome mountains and ice in the background. (The colors were not manipulated in Photoshop!)

Of course, penguins always steal the show. This is a colony of chinstraps, and the pink guano shows that krill are abundant in this area.

Chinstrap penguins.

Chinstraps on the move.

Chinstraps are very photogenic!

A Weddell seal chillin' on the rocks. (They're much cuter than leopard seals!)

"Flying" chinstrap penguins - porpoising above the waves.

We were greeted by "Vikings" bearing "Hot Choco" during our Zodiac cruise. Yum!