ANTARCTIC PENINSULA- BROWN BLUFF,

Our first footfall on the Antarctic proper was at Brown Bluff, the ice pack was negotiated through a narrow open channel to a beach packed with breeding Gentoos and Adelie penguins.

 ADELIE PENGUIN

 ADELIE

 GENTOO stealing stones to improve its nest.

A PASTIME THEY ALL ENJOY

 A SIMPLE NEST OF LOOSE STONES AND NOT VERY HYGENIC.

 THE KELP GULL IS THE ONLY GULL IN THIS AREA.

 GENTOO ON ICE

 I AM COMING IN.

 ADELIES PRESENT A UNITED FRONT

 WHO IS GOING IN FIRST?

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 -THE ADELIES white eye is distinctive.

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 ADELIE FACE OFF..

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 ONE OF THE NESTING COLONIES.

 JUMP

 MADE IT

 -SLIP SLIDING AWAY.

 ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?

 ICE IN THE BAY

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The next port of call was Deception Island an extinct volcano of immense proportions,it must have been one hell of a bang when it exploded leaving a large sea filled crater.

 ITS GETTING COLDER

 DECEPTION ISLAND-It was too windy to land here so we did a complete circuit of the lagoon before heading back out to sea,by now the wind was howling through and we were confined indoors,watching the spume and spray engulf the ship.

 LIGHT ICING AT DECEPTION ISLAND

 AN ISOLATED HUT

 REMAINS OF THE OLD WHALING STATION SURVIVE - JUST.

 OLD OIL TANKS.

 -Towards evening the storm blew itself out..

 =

 THE SPRAY HAD FROZEN ON THE DECKS

I LIKE ICICLES.

SUNSET IN THE WEDDEL SEA.

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY.