25 Dec 2014

Christmas on Enderby

Enderby Island provided the best of Christmas gifts today. Our greeting party at Sandy Bay consisted of a pair of Auckland Island Teal feeding in the kelp and some rather cranky female Hooker’s Sea Lions. It was not long before the first Yellow-eyed Penguins were spotted as we headed off towards the Northern Cliffs. There were numerous nesting Southern Royal Albatross and vivid colour from flowers straining to pollinate in the light winds. We found a few Snipe along the way and nesting Light Mantled Sooty Albatross were discovered on the cliffs below the crests where some pairs demonstrated some skilled aerobatics.

Expeditioners on the boardwalk, Christmas Day

A hearty group of 22 people set off on the six hour coastal trek around the east side of the island, while the rest of the group headed back to Sandy Bay to observe the Sea Lion action on the beach. Just 10 days ago there were only three pups on the sand – there are now over 200. Pups were even being born as we watched, while bulls fought hard trying to protect their harems. It was a day punctuated by Skuas, New Zealand Falcons, Red Crowned Kakariki, Giant Petrels (to name just a few) and a simple cut lunch, but wow, what a day! A sumptuous dinner back aboard the Spirit of Enderby was the perfect end to this very unique Christmas Day!