16 Apr 2024

Short-tailed Albatross at Torishima Island

As we enjoyed another delicious lunch on board Heritage Adventurer, the towering silhouette of Torishima Island came into view. Before long, we arrived at this uninhabited volcanic island, 500 kilometres south of mainland Japan.

We enjoyed a scenic ship cruise and leisurely circumnavigation of the island, one mile from the wave-battered shoreline. Sunny skies and moderate sea conditions offered great views of the polychromatic volcanic landscape as we eagerly watched from the spacious outside decks.

Torishima is not just another pretty island in the vast Pacific Ocean. It is also the main nesting area of one of the world’s most endangered seabirds—the Short-tailed Albatross. Heritage Adventurer was soon surrounded by dozens of these handsome flying giants, which are unlikely likely to be seen in such numbers, or such proximity, anywhere else on the planet. Just as we were fully absorbed in this avian splendour, our attention was captured by another wildlife spectacle—a Humpback Whale mother and calf began breaching out of the water in unison between us and the island. After several hours, as dusk was falling, we turned north with hearts full of fondness for the little island of Torishima.

Images © C.Finch & from file, Heritage Expeditions