Danzenbaker Tour Journal: Sailing on to South Georgia

January 4:  A day at sea 
 
Thoughts of sleeping in after the three very long days on the Falklands were quickly abandoned when I looked out the window and saw many seabirds flying around the ship. Southern Giant Petrels rode air currents off the stern, providing yet another great opportunity for photography. As they hung in the air, the sound of shutters snapping meant that the photographers were happy. Black-browed Albatrosses were evident too, but it was difficult to get excited about them after yesterday’s Steeple Jason treat. Greater and Sooty Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, Slender-billed Prions, and White-chinned Petrels were our companions throughout the day. 

As on past trips, Soft-plumaged Petrel, a visitor from Tristan de Cunha Island some 5,000 kms
to the north, was the sought-after species during this leg of our journey. We saw 48 today – less than
average but enough that everyone saw them well. Their arcing bat-like flight and brown and white plumage made for easy identification, although photography was impossible. Several “Big A’s” – Wandering Albatrosses and Southern Royal Albatrosses -  flew near the ship, but always just a bit too far out for a great photograph.

Southern Royal Albatross is one of several "Big A's" that occasionally follow the Polar Star. An 11-foot wingspan makes this species an exceptional flier with an ability to lock wings in place and soar for hours.

 
Lectures filled much of the remainder of the day's schedule and I delivered my second in a series on seabird identification. More people attended this one than the first – an encouraging sign that folks are becoming more curious about the birds that have been following the Polar Star. A second half-hour bird study on the stern was not as successful as the first. Fog had moved in and the birds had become scarce. Pre-landing bio-security preparations also started. It would be necessary to thoroughly clean all gear  that we would use during our numerous landings on South Georgia. 

South Georgia is rightfully concerned about the introduction of non-native species to the island, so the
cleaning of all gear and removal of all seeds caught in velcro, shoelaces, nooks and crannies in dry bags, pockets, and camera bags is imperative. As a staff member, I not only had to clean my own gear, but I was also assigned to inspect passengers’ bags. A one-hour stint stuck indoors with humming vacuum cleaners and brushes scrubbing may not have been the most exciting hour of my life, but it was essential and a small price to pay in the effort to keep South Georgia free from unwanted plant introductions. 
 
 
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner made me yearn for more time on shore!