11 Jan 2024

Birding galore at the Snares Islands

Our In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton adventure which sails into the heart of Antarctica, the Ross Sea, was off to a fantastic start at the Snares Islands.

As Heritage Adventurer cruised towards the Snares Islands, they were invisible behind a veil of sea fog. We watched in awe as it lifted, revealing high granite cliffs lit by the morning sun and topped by white flowering Hebe shrubs and a canopy of silvery Tree Daisies. The eastern side of the Island was awash with swells, so our Captain took Heritage Adventurer around the craggy east coast of Broughton Island to a more sheltered bay between the southern arms of North East Island.

The real stars of the day were the seabirds. We launched Zodiacs and were soon exploring the lee of the Islands. Between Broughton and North East Island, the waters were teeming; a tight school of orange Krill was being pursued underwater by schools of fish, in turn being hunted by Snares Crested Penguins. Above the water, a long raft of Cape Petrels snapped up the little Krill, their bills dipping and rising like sewing machine needles. Antarctic Terns, Red-billed Gulls, Buller's Albatross and prions all joined the feeding frenzy. Further out, a great procession of Tītī/Sooty Shearwaters wheeled across the wind-driven waves, plunging suddenly into the sea en masse to feast upon small fish and crustaceans. What a day!

Images © F. Wardle, Heritage Expeditions