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| Markus Eichenberger | profile | all galleries >> SOUTH AMERICA TRIP >> SOUTH GEORGIA | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
 Leaving Ushuaia in the afternoon |
 docked next to Japanese Fishing vessel |
 Sailing through the Beagle Channel |
 with some impressive clouds |
 and an Albatross following us |
 and some other seabirds |
 Arriving in South Georgia!!! |
 First impressions of the island |
 it is a mystic place |
 with lots of wildlife |
 from millions of seals |
 to Gentoo Penguins |
 and did I mention seals.... |
 it was autumn time, green grass and snow peaks |
 which produced amazing contrasts |
 the island is famous for |
 their Albatross colonies |
 amazing birds |
 when they flew over our heads |
 one could hear the wind wistling |
 here the size comparison with the blue tourist |
 Salisbury Plain landing site, famous for Kings |
 and some nibbling on my tripod |
 with a curious seal coming out of the water |
 and some King Penguins attacking my camera! |
 but in general, they were very gentle |
 and posing for the camera |
 and coming up to me out of curiousity |
 telling me who the boss is on the island... |
 here on a nice beach stroll |
 enjoying the sun as we do... |
 there were many thousands of them at the beach |
 with some picturesque fresh snow mountains |
 and young seals playing around |
 King Penguins just everywhere |
 uhhhh, what happened to you! |
 others not really impressed either.... |
 wanna count King Penguins ? :D |
 we were lucky with the weather |
 having blue sky with penguin parade |
 it was just a magic place |
 we even saw from time to time an iceberg |
 here some Kings cleaning and splashing |
 the colours on them are just amazing |
 well, this blue tourist again... |
 must be Swiss or Austrian, he is yodeling... |
 not shy at all, minimum distance 5 meters |
 but only if they don't come to you |
 the brownies in between are the chicks |
 A chick wandering around |
 a half baked potato |
 and the fate of an unfortunate one... |
 Another landing at Copper Island |
 with amazing mountains |
 and lots of rocks with wildlife |
 like this Macaroni Penguin |
 and other birds |
 looking for food |
 with big seal colonies |
 sitting on the rocks watching us |
 it was difficult walking on the island |
 the seals looked like the soil we were walking on |
 but we got rewarded by seeing some Macaroni Penguins |
 Another sunny day at Drygalski Fjord |
 lowering the zodiacs |
 we went for a nice cruise |
 along the mountains |
 with our zodiac driver |
 and then going back to our ship, the Ortelius |
 Fortuna Bay was another highlight |
 with lots of Penguins walking |
 on green grass |
 and kissing each other.... |
 with lots of chicks |
 or just relaxing in the grass |
 this was one of the few white seals we saw |
 and another one posing |
 watching the three amigos |
 View from a cave near Grytviken |
 we went for a small hike to Grytviken |
 where we paid respect |
 to the grave of Sir Ernest Shackelton |
 a famous British Antarctic Explorer |
 and leftovers from the Whale Hunting times |
 The Museum in Grytviken |
 with an impressive Albatross on the ceiling |
 and the original clothes worn by Shackelton and his crew |
 touching the fur of a King Penguin |
 and the surroundings of the station |
 with a Maritime Museum |
 and an old fisherman boat |
 Next morning we arrived at Gold Harbour |
 with some beautiful scenery |
 and another day with some sun... |
 Greetings by an Elephant Seal |
 and some Kings walking around seals |
 a badly injured King Penguin... |
 and some seals playing at the beach |
 we even got a nice rainbow as a welcome gift |
 and a full beach of Kings |
 waddling out of the water |
 and the three amigos showing off again |
 followed by a 4th one |
 there were definitely some tensions |
 between the Kings and the seals |
 or even between the Elephant Seals themselves |
 one wondering what is going on, hey? |
 a giant Petrel waiting for food |
 and some relaxed penguins |
 Parents feeding their chick |
 and showing them how to pose for the camera |
 well, had maybe a bit too much food, hey? |
 the browns take over the place |
 and the Petrels waiting for food too... |
 well, here another one of this blue tourist standing in the way... |
 Giant Petrel vs. King Penguings |
 Looking after the kids |
 and stretching their necks |
 Giant Petrels are not shy at all, wanted to eat me alive, ha,ha,ha |
 and with beautiful snow mountain in the background |
 and a victim to daily Penguin life |
 Glacier, greens and Penguins, what more can we ask for |
 well, maybe some seals at the beach? |
 or some King Posers... |
 with the waves coming in |
 it just looked amazing, I guess they saw me... |
 another King yodeling |
 and an old Whaler Station at Prince Olav Harbour |
 with an old ship |
 and a new crew on board, the seals |
 In Elsehul we finally saw some more |
 Macaroni Penguins, which are hard to spot |
 as they live high up in the rocks |
 and finally a seal saying goodbye |
 Another day, on the way back to civilization |
 and this time with a green tourist... |
 standing on the helipad of the ship and enjoying the sun |
 On the way to Montevideo |
 just as we arrived there was an amazing |
 sunset with a ship right in the middle |
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