Ship's Log: Half Moon Island, 62⁰ 36’ South, 59⁰ 55’ West
This crescent-shaped island is 1.25 mile long and is located on the eastern side of the much larger
Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands. It was known to Sealers as early as 1821, although was seemingly only named in the 1930s.
We arrived at Half Moon Island and by 8:45 am, passengers were disembarking Zodiacs and
heading uphill and for another fabulous landing. The weather was most cooperative with no
winds, gray skies, with high clouds providing some atmospheric drama and ideal light for
photography. At the beach we found another abandoned water boat from the whaling era and
a few Antarctic Fur Seals sleeping around it. The Expedition Team marked a path through the
guano and algae-stained rocks towards the main Chinstrap colony. The Chinstraps provided
much entertainment, especially when they erupted into a loud synchronous, almost deafening,
cacophony. Many of them had cute fuzzy gray chicks.
Ken, one of the expedition leaders resting on the zodiac before we start loading to transfer to the island.
The remains of a whaling water boat laid on the shore. You can see the line of Chinstrap Penguins acroos the top of the hill.
Clean penguins resting on the beach after their swim.
The reddish color is penguin poo and gets the color from the seafood they eat (mainly krill). The Chinstrap Penguins are the most numerous penguins in the world. It is estimated there are 12 to 13 million located on the barren islands of the sub-Antarctic Region and the Antarctic Peninsula.
A dirty penguin. Yep, when poop where you live you tend to get dirty. Oh, and the smell was memorable!
The grayish chicks blend in well with the rocky surrounding.
Here is a closeup.
We had fun watching them waddle around. They weren't afraid of us at all.
Enjoying the warm sun.
Fur seals on the beach sunning as well.
A little disagreement over who had the right to occupy this space.
We returned to the ship and began moving to our next area to visit.
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