25 Jan 2024

An exciting day exploring Cape Bird

The deteriorating conditions overnight prompted a move to the east to explore the Ross Ice Shelf. There we were met with testing Antarctic conditions with 50 knot winds, horizontal snow, and limited visibility. The outer decks were closed but, from the library and lounge, we caught glimpses of the impressive ‘barrier' as our Captain took Heritage Adventurer in close.

In the early afternoon, we reached the Adélie penguin colony at Cape Bird on the northern tip of Ross Island. With Mount Erebus giving us lee, the conditions were much improved and Zodiacs were launched for the day's activities. The surf appeared to be crashing along the coast, but Expedition Leader Nathan Russ returned and called a briefing for our landing. We were offered three choices for the three hour landing: an uphill hike to burn off all our chocolate desserts; a trek along the beach to the Adélie Penguin colony; or the opportunity to explore around the landing site.

Groups set off up the hill and along the beach. The climbers covered a large distance along the ridges to the snow and spent some time in radio silence at the top, and the beach walkers reached the colony sidestepping the South Polar Skua chicks while the adult Skuas performed aerial ballet and the penguin parade along the beach kept us all smiling.

We returned for a slightly delayed dinner during which the opening of the pool, pool bar, whirlpool and sauna was announced, adjourning to the pool deck for an unexpected end to an unexpected day.

Images © F. Wardle & S. Abraham, Heritage Expeditions