Melchior Islands

Our destination for today was changed to avoid the nasty weather that is prevailing outside the archipelago where we are currently located, so todays stop is at the Melchior Island Group, the site of another Argentinian research base.

 


As usual, the mornings are cool and light snow sometimes falls, but the days improve toward lunch time.


Arrival at Melchior Islands.

Our activities for the day are a ride on the special operations boat this morning followed by a zodiac cruise this afternoon.


One of the special operations boats conducting their tour

Our boat ride commences at 11 am, and only takes 12 passengers at a time. It tends to cover a wider area than the zodiacs, as it is a lot faster and not as manoeuvrable close to shore. They are ideal for seeing whales and other seaborne wildlife.


All loaded and ready to go

The whales were not terribly co-operative this morning, but we did see some nice scenery and lots of penguins swimming but elusive to photograph.








A group on penguins on the shore

Back on board I got to have a quick look at the hangar where all of the toys are launched from, and the special operations boats slipway is located.

   


The afternoon trip in the zodiac provided a lot closer look at what was happening along the shoreline and go us close enough to get some good photos.


The only flora we see are mosses and lichens growing on rock faces


Heading off to a little cove where we have some good wildlife sightings


This gull appears to be keeping a lookout protecting the nearby nest


Gull nesting on the top of a rock




Atlantic cormorants


a large seal, lounging on the snow




Moving around to a new area near the Argentinian Melchior Base, we can see Viking Octantis holding position some disance from us.


Melchior base is one of the many Argentinian research bases in this part of the Antarctic. It apparently has now been unoccupied for a few years, but is famous as it was the first Argentinian base to host and all female research team.






It could use a bit of TLC. Apparently it gets a paint job every few years as if left totally abandoned. the host country must demolish the station and return everything to the host Nation.


The accommodation building

There are lots of penguins near the base station, mostly chinstraps.









More penguins taking a break on the snow on the way back to the ship

Another interesting day comes to an end and at our afternoon briefing at 5.30 pm, we are told that tomorrow's location will be Stony Point. We have also just found out that we have a booking to go on the submarine tomorrow, something we are very much looking forward to.

The weather in the Drake Passage still looks less than ideal. Lets hope the current system passes through tommorrow, as we are due to commence our return to Ushuaia the day after tomorrow.



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