Dawn on day four found us just to the east of Prince Edward Island. Today would be the main day that we would experience the seabirds of the southern oceans, with half a day planned around the west side of the islands for the following morning. The ship was very busy with birders from 4am. As the sky lightened, Andy and I went to the back of the ship and were greeted by incredible scenes. There were seabirds covering the entire sea.
Hundreds of albatrosses could be seen in a single 180-degree sweep. Both Northern and Southern Giant Petrels were everywhere, as were both Sooty and Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses.
The number of Snowy Albatrosses was astounding These huge birds drifted around, occasionally gathering in groups to fight over food sources:
But it was not just the sheer number of birds that we could see, it was the quality of some of those views. These huge seabirds would float up to the rear of the ship and pass at eye level, giving astounding views:
A Black-browed Albatross became our seventh species of albatross on the trip and one of six species that we saw in this single day.
From the largest albatrosses to the smallest storm petrels, seabirds were around us all morning:
On the horizon, both Prince Edward and Marion Islands could be seen, the latter with snow coating the higher peaks, even in the middle of the austral summer. The highest point on Marion is Mascarin Peak at 1,230m high, South Africa’s only active volcano, which last erupted in 2004:
It was an incredible morning, one never to be forgotten, despite the sub-zero temperatures on deck all day. The sheer number of seabirds that we saw will remain long in the memory, as will the point-blank views of the albatrosses and giant petrels of the Southern Oceans.
Next: Magical Marion, part 2: Penguin Pain and Petrel Pleasure