As we made our way south from Elephant Island we noticed a significant increase in the amount of ice surrounding us. Overnight, we made our way into the Antarctic Sound and the north of Erebus and Terror Gulf. It is in this area that the Antarctic currents deposit the icebergs which are broken fragments of the ice shelves of the Weddel Sea. This ice makes travel in this area unpredictable, as large areas can suddenly become blocked up with the changing winds and currents. On considering the conditions we were met with on arrival, we opted to make our first landing of the day at Brown Bluff, on the Antarctic Peninsula. Brown Bluff is a geological spectacle in its own right, formed by various volcanic deposits. These deposits were laid down in such a way as to create dramatic, wave-like shapes in the brown cliffs that rise up from the landing site. It is known for its nesting adelie and gentoo penguins, as well as snow petrels. We watched the penguins, in particular, displaying typically eccentric and comic behaviour in stone theft, fighting and generally providing vast amounts of character to the local ecosystem.
From Brown Bluff we made our way to Fridtjof Sound. Along the way we had a number of encounters with minke whales in the waters near the ship. Snow began to limit our visibility, but brought true Antarctic atmosphere to the surrounding landscape. From our position amongst the ice, we launched Zodiacs to explore the area around the ship. As well as the experience of viewing the ice up close in this truly otherworldly setting, we also encountered wildlife such as various bird and seal species, including one leopard seal. We returned to the ship as it cruised in the vicinity of one particularly spectacular grounded tabular iceberg. This was truly a day of the north east part of the Antarctic Peninsula doing what it does best.
