21 Nov 2014

Erect-crested Penguin

Last night we sailed from the Antipodes to the Bounty Islands (two of the most remote island groups on the globe) as a classical southern ocean storm came roaring through. It was not a comfortable night, but the passengers are all in good spirits this morning, despite being a little weary from lack of sleep.
 
Yesterday we took a Zodiac cruise at the Antipodes Islands and enjoyed great views of the Erect-crested Penguin, arguably one of the hardest penguins in the world to see, as it only breeds on the Antipodes and Bounty Islands where very few expeditions venture. The New Zealand Department of Conservation is preparing an eradication program to rid the islands of house mice which arrived at the island soon after its discovery.

The Bounty Islands looked magnificent this morning, but as they were being battered by the remnants of last night’s storm and spray was breaking over many of the rocks, we weren’t able to launch the Zodiacs.  We still managed to get some great views from the ship of the endemic Cormorant plus Fulmar Prions and Salvin’s Albatross as we continued on our voyage towards the Chatham Islands.