Antarctica- day 8 Cuverville Island and Neko Harbour Part 1

We are off and running today,
  Everyday will be a mystery as it all depends on weather and permission to go where the ship would like to go.

Day 8 Feb 5th Antarctic Peninsula. 64.8 degrees latitude. Cuverville Island  In the Gerlache Strait. 

Temperature is 39 ` cloudy and we are surrounded by icebergs. Hopefully we will be able to touch Antarctica. 
We traveled to the shore in zodiacs to visit the group of rookery.Gentoo penguins.  Lots of penguins!!!

This island has small vertical cliffs up to 200m in elevation . It is home of  Giant Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Antarctic Terns, Snowy Sheathbills and South Polar Skuas.

                  WE landed where the arrow is but we were able to walk up to the areas of rookeries. We are told about 4800 pairs.

                   When you see the zodiac off in the distance, it gives you an idea how big things are!

           Loading us up. Most of the time we are 10 in the boat depending on the sea and weather,
                                                       not to mention the ice we break through.

                       My first picture of Gentoo penguins...many more to come.. Just love these guys!

                                                                     WADDLE WADDLE

              There is some plant life here in the summer. Two kinds of mosses here in this picture.

                      My little guy needs to loose all his feathers before he can swim or he will drown.

A penguin egg and to the left is a Rock cod  they eat.

                             Some babies following their parent "feed me" and some are on their nests.

 He is a little dirty from the Krill which is orange.. you might be able to see the orange snow through out the photos.

                                                                       Someones foot.

                                     Can't get enough of these guys! They go on forever in their rookeries

                                      My lone ranger.taking a break. Below are whale bones.

.

The weather is always changing so you never know what you will get when you leave. Lots of ice..

                                                                 A little dolphin coming on by

 Or it could be calm..

We are back for a BQ lunch outside and then off again later.
 Every time we come to the ship we have to spray wash our boots and poles but in my case, they had to wash my back side down as i sat down and tried to get a penguin to come to me..No matter where you sit you are in penguin poop...and it has a smell of its own!!!