South of the Antarctic Circle at Red Rock Ridge

It is always a thrill for the passengers to cross the Antarctic Circle. At Red Rock Ridge there is an Adelie Penguin colony and some Fur Seals

View from Red Rock Ridge

Adelie Penguins

Adelie Penguin

Adelie Penguin

with chicks

At this stage, parents leave their chicks in a “creche” and go out to sea to feed.

Chicks are “fledging” meaning that their adult feathers are coming in.

Moulting adult. Penguins have a “catastrophic moult” and cannot go to sea to feed during this time. In three weeks they lose 50% of their body weight.

On the job

Pebbles

Male Fur Seal

Preserved Fur Seal corpse. Temperatures are so cold here for most of the year that decomposition takes a very long time.

 

February 6, 2017

Miles Hearn

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