17 Feb 2020

Cape Adare and its Adelie Penguin Colonies

Early this morning we woke to enjoy an exceptional few hours off Cape Adare at the entrance to the Ross Sea. Before us lay Cape Adare and the Adare Peninsula disappearing into a large whale-back cloud while to the west, the Admiralty Mountain Range - one of the finest alpine panoramas one could ever see.

The great peaks of Mounts Sabine, Minto and Adam were bathed in soft pink early morning light, while the surrounding peaks and valleys in shadow were a cold, icy blue. Passing Ridley Beach groups of Adelie Penguins behind an ice barrier and Borchgrevink's hut, the first human habitation on the continent, were clearly observed from Spirit of Enderby.

By late morning we were exploring the fascinating Possession Islands with their outstanding volcanic features, colours and raucous antics of two large Adelie Penguin breeding colonies.

Image from file © I.Wilson, Heritage Expedition