Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 1 – our first view, from the Zodiac landing site, of part of the impressive Gentoo penguin colonies that Cuverville Island is famed for
Lying at the north end of the Errera Channel, Cuverville Island (or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville) was discovered by Gerlache’s Belgica expedition in 1898 and named for a vice-admiral in the French navy. The island, off the west coast of Graham Land in the Antarctic Peninsula, at the entrance to the Errera Channel, is topped by a steep-sided dome, two-thirds of which is covered by a permanent icecap and surrounded by glacial icebergs. We rode in Zodiacs from the ship to a cobble beach landing site that afforded access to the largest gentoo penguin colony in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 2 – a gentoo penguinCuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 3
At both ends of our landing site were the impressive Gentoo penguin colonies that Cuverville Island is famed for. We could clearly see the trails (“penguin highways”) they use to make their way to and from the water and other trails leading across the shore and uphill. There are other colonies and nesting sites on the higher ground behind the beach, and throughout the island.
Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 4 – the penguins didn’t seem bothered at all by the inclement weather; they also are right at home in the ocean waters at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 5Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 6 – penguins “racing” along the “penguin highways”Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 7Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 8 – the remains of a South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccomicki, a predatory seabirdCuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 9Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 10Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 11Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 12Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 13– the well-worn top of an iceberg reminiscent of the curve of a Japanese torii gate, most commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto shrineCuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 14Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 15 – the weather started to clear about 3.5 hours after we returned from our landing on the island; this was the first blue sky in a few days, and we were all hoping it would continue
After our return from the island to the ship, we had a rare sighting of 10+ Orca whales (“killer whales”) who may have been stalking (and trying to wear out) a humpback whale, hoping for a “kill” and a feast of a dinner.
Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, photograph # 16 – Orca whales, photograph courtesy of EYOS Expeditions
Where in the world is Riccardo? 