Antarctic
Wildlife Update
May 2003
by Dewi Edwards
 The
end of January saw the beginning of many whale sightings in
the waters around Rothera, with Minke whales being the predominant
species. Groups of up to a dozen of these small cetaceans could
be seen feeding in South Bay and further offshore on most days.
Humpback whales were noted twice and several Sei Whales were
observed in loose association with Minkes. The main attraction
however was a group of over a dozen Killer Whales which appeared
on the afternoon of 18th February and spent more than an hour
offshore teaching their young to hunt seals! At least three
adult males were present within the group, each sporting impressive
dorsal fins in excess of four feet high. Several breaches were
noted (leaping clear out of the water) along with tail lobbing,
in which an individual hangs in the water and slaps its tail
on the surface.
On the birding front,
things were a lot quieter, with no new species seen,
but the local residents continued to rear their young.
South Polar Skua chicks could be seen and heard at various
places on the point, whilst Antarctic Tern chicks had
already fledged and were congregating in small flocks
offshore. Large numbers of Blue-eyed Shags could be seen
on most days fishing in South Bay, and an occasional
Snow Petrel would fly over, usually in the evenings.
Small numbers of Adelie Penguins would come ashore in
the evenings to roost on the point, and single Chinstrap
Penguins were also noted.
Adelie
Penguins 
(click
image for larger view)
|
Photo © Dewi
Edwards |
Fur Seal numbers increased steadily, with some individuals
lounging on the runway, but Crabeater and Weddell seals were
scarcer than earlier in the season. A Leopard Seal was noted
on several dates, and Elephant Seals could be seen hauled out
on some of the beaches on most days.
 |
Black-browed
Albatross |
We left Rothera at the end of March on the research ship James
Clarke Ross and headed north along the Peninsula. I finally
added to my tally of bird species for the year, seeing some
of the more regular Southern Ocean species, and others not
so regular. A single immature Emperor Penguin made a brief
appearance, swimming by as we passed the Dion Islands and a
Black-browed Albatross accompanied the ship along with the
smaller Cape Petrels. Antarctic Fulmars and Snow Petrels were
also seen, but Wilson’s Storm-Petrels were scarce, presumably
having migrated North earlier in the month.
 |
Snow
Petrels Photo © Dewi
Edwards
|
April
the 1st dawned grey and foggy, with visibility
down to zero. We were heading into the Lemaire channel,
one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
Having spent two and a half years at Faraday Base,
just to the South of the channel, I had hoped to see
familiar places again, but luck was against us until
the last possible moment. We approached the narrow
gap between Booth Island and Mount Scott through a
wall of grey when the fog started to clear rapidly.
Halfway through the channel and we were into clear
blue skies with incredible scenery on both sides of
the ship, Humpback and Minke Whales cavorting in the
water, Seals and Penguins on nearby ice floes and flocks
of Antarctic Terns, Snow Petrels and Antarctic Fulmars
wheeling amongst the icebergs. Magical!
Cape
Renard
|
|
 Photo © Dewi
Edwards
|
Once past the Peninsula, we headed north towards the
Falkland Islands. Seabirds were scarcer than on previous
trips, but Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and
Light- mantled Sooty Albatross were seen along with
a singles of Royal and White-capped Albatross which
accompanied the ship for an hour or so. Magical!
 Wandering
Albatross
(click
image for larger view)
|
Three Prion species were seen, Antarctic being predominant,
with Fairy and Slender Billed making an appearance. Soft-plumaged
Petrel numbers were higher than on any previous trip, with
smaller numbers of Kerguelen Petrel and the ever present Black-bellied
Storm-Petrels fluttering by. A single Atlantic Petrel flew
past the ship, and three Cattle Egrets landed on board briefly!
Cetaceans
were much in evidence on this voyage, with Fin, Humpback,
Sei, Minke, Killer and Southern Bottlenosed Whales being
seen, and Hourglass Dolphins rode the bow wave or played
in the wake.
As we approached
the Falklands, Sooty Shearwaters increased in number
and inshore species such as Imperial and Rock Shags could
be seen all around the ship. As we approached the Narrows
(the entrance to Stanley harbour) Dolphin and Kelp Gulls
came to inspect us, and Upland Geese could be seen on
the headlands with Turkey Vultures soaring overhead.
With an overnight stay in Port Stanley, it was straight
to the airport the following day and back to reality!
I am now at home in Wales, albeit briefly, and planning
what to do next……..
Kelp
Gulls
(click
image for larger view) |
Photo © Dewi Edwards |
Wings
Over Dutchess,
June 2003
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To see more of Dewi's
outstanding photos of Antartica and its wildlife, curl
up with the Antarctica
Photo Album.
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