Fall Time in Antarctica

With summer ending in Antarctica ...

Most of the penguins have left except those who are molting

 And haven't seen any crabeaters seals recently

 Or humpback whales

 But there are plenty of fur seals

Who act like puppies - barking and nipping at each other

Whales, Penguins, Seals ... Oh My

While collecting water samples a penguin flew out of the water and into the Zodiac - probably thinking this black thing was a rock.

Lots of krill brought lots of Humpback whales into the Palmer area. We took out the Zodiacs to check them out and sometimes they checked us out - we would get nearby, turn off the engine and they would circle us.

 Humpback whales tales

The furs seals have arrived. Having fur we don't start seeing them until later in the summer. Soon there will be hundreds hanging out on nearby rocks.

Bird Life

Skuas a.k.a sea gulls on steroids

Skua chick

Southern Giant Petrel

 Adelie penguins with a nearly full grown chick losing its baby fluff on the chest and belly

Summertime

A Southern Giant Petrel

A Weddell Seal 

Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins - although we see three chicks here, seeing three eggs in one nest is very rare, so one of the chicks is probably from another nest

 Baby Southern Elephant Seal

 

Adolescent Southern Elephant Seal

Adult Southern Elephant Seal

A heard of Southern Elephant Seals

Sheathbill Cove 

Large iceberg

Austral Summer Solstice

Every hour on the hour for 24 hours

Sunset 24:07

Sunrise 02:21

Notice where the sun sets and where it rises

 8am

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11am 

 12pm

 1pm

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7pm 

8pm 

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10pm 

 11pm

 Midnight

 Midnight from slightly different angle

 1am

 2am

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7am

Living the Dream

 A young elephant seal stopped by for a visit.

 A beautiful, warm day - time for a lounge by the water.

 Friday night was the Palmer Art Show and Open Mike. We packed up our musical gear and transported it to the bar/lounge Palmer-style - in the Skytrac. 

 The stage

 Jamming ... our set list - Sweet Home Chicago, Sweet Home Alabama, Tush, TNT, Brown Sugar, Stray Cat Strut. It was a fun time for all.