27 Dec 2017

Macquarie's Sandy Bay Delivers

Today will be a day that our expeditioners will remember for the rest of their lives. After an early breakfast, Chris was just about to start his lecture on Wildlife of Macquarie Island when a call came over the PA that Orca had been spotted. We all rushed out to the decks and enjoyed spectacular views of a pod of orca swimming 50 or so metres from the boat. After that excitement, we headed back inside to learn more about the animals that we hoped to see on Macquarie Island. Chris' experience as Head Ranger on Macquarie Island, and his clear love and passion for this island, meant that his enthusiasm was contagious and by the end of the talk, we were itching for the day ahead. On this voyage, we are lucky enough to be travelling with three staff who have spent time on Macquarie Island; Chris, Laura and Alex, and our expeditioners have certainly enjoyed asking questions and learning more about what it is like to live in such a unique environment. 
After picking up Macquarie Island rangers who will be our companions and guides for the next 24 hours; Andrea, Kath, Nick and Penny, we set sail for Sandy Bay. After a tasty lunch to keep us going for the long afternoon, we boarded the zodiacs heading for Macquarie Island's iconic Sandy Bay. No matter what you may have read or seen about Sandy Bay, nothing will prepare you for the sensory overload of landing on the grey stony beach where endemic Royal Penguins jostle for space between stately King Penguins and ungainly Elephant Seals. I can tell you that each and every expeditioner was enthralled with every minute spent on that beach. Every traveller will have different personal highlights from the day, but they may have included: 

The glistening colours of the King Penguins' golden feathers as the sun peeked out from behind a cloud, bathing the beach in a warm glow from the golden kelp to the oranges and yellows of the Penguins coats. 

Swirling penguin feathers in the wind from moulting King Penguins created a snowstorm like effect around gatherings of stoic King Penguins. 

Royal Penguins catching a wave and surfing into rockpools. 

Learning more from the Rangers about their work on the island and their areas of research. 

Royal Penguins guarding their chicks as Giant Petrels and Skuas swooped above looking for their next meal. 

Young elephant seals with their reflective dark eyes, long lashes and rolls of fat looking on at us with interest.  

The cacophany of sounds from nature's orchestra from the belching, grunting and groaning of the elephant seal haulout to the trumpeting of the King Penguins and the sqwarks of the Royal Penguins. 

The salty, pungent smell of Penguins combined with the backdrop of noise and the visual spectacle ahead of us that meant that every sense was engaged and confirming to us that we were really in this most magnificent part of the world. After a long afternoon ashore, we returned back to the ship with full memory cards, sun-kissed cheeks, smiles on faces and many, many stories to share.