24 Dec 2020

Sensational Snares Adventures

A rolling northwesterly swell submerged the first few steps of Spirit of Enderby's starboard side gangway as we launched the Zodiacs off the Snares Islands for the first time.

With everyone safely on board we powered toward the sheltered coves and small harbours of the Snares Islands. A single squall of rain broke the sunshine and light westerly breeze as we encountered thousands of Snares-crested Penguins, abundant New Zealand Fur Seals and swathes of swirling bull kelp around the granite platforms emerging from the coastline.

Along the ecotone between the forest and the splash zone we watched Snares Tomtit flitting in and about the coastal Hebe scrub, while the endemic Snares Island Fernbird could be seen darting and, sometimes running like mice, under scrub and over the lichen-encrusted rock.

Back on board our trusty expedition vessel and sailing south, the remaining cloud dispersed and we had a perfect views of the sheer granite ramparts of North East Island, Broughton Island and the Western Chain stretching out to the south west. Our Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific expedition had begun.  

Image © A.Fergus, Heritage Expeditions