Petermann Island and Booth Island, Antarctica

February 10, 2020 - National Geographic Explorer

Our time and efforts were dedicated to penguins today! Both morning and afternoon, we enjoyed opportunities to walk on land and zodiac cruise, which meant watching with pure delight the many aspects of penguin personality. Gentoo penguins porpoised around the zodiacs and some jettisoned themselves from the water onto slippery icebergs.

At Peteramann Island we walked from the very cove Jean Baptiste Charcot overwintered on the Pourquoi Pas in 1909. Historical monuments and cairns added to the already fascinating site full of Gentoo parents tending to the growing chicks.

During cruises at Booth Island, some of us encountered leopard seals in the ice and many of us got up close and personal with plenty of crabeater seals swimming together in large groups or snoozing. We found snow covered in brilliant snow algae. The green and red colors pigmenting the snow enhanced the visibility of penguin highways making their way up mountainsides and steep snowy slopes.

We closed the day with some mulled wine on the bow and a trip north through the famous Lemaire Channel.

Text and photos by Emily Newton, Undersea Specialist

Link to full article on Lindblad-National Geographic website:

https://www.expeditions.com/daily-expedition-reports/191876/