04 Dec 2019

Enlightened on Enderby Island

Waking to brilliant sunshine anchored off the first landing of our expedition, Auckland Island's Enderby Island, spirits were high as our Zodiacs skimmed over the calm water towards this incredible island.

Once again the bountiful wildlife Enderby Island is renowned for did not disappoint with good numbers of New Zealand Bird of the Year the Yellow-eyed Penguin/Hoiho spotted as we disembarked at Sandy Bay. Splitting up into three groups, we set out to explore this rugged and remote Subantarctic outpost observing nesting Southern Royal Albatross scattered across the plateau, numerous Auckland Island Banded Dotterel, three extremely obliging Auckland Island Snipe (one for each group), Auckland Island Tomtits, a Brown Skua and chick, lots of dapper Auckland Island Shags and multiple encounters with sunbathing New Zealand/Hooker's Sea Lions and several young Elephant Seals.

Re-grouping at Sandy Bay, one of three breeding grounds on the Auckland Islands for the New Zealand Sea Lion, we took a moment to enjoy beach life with these rare mammals before returning to the comforts of our trusty expedition vessel Spirit of Enderby.

Image © A.Chavanne, Heritage Expedition