January 24, 2025

 January 24, 2025


Franklin Island


This was one of our favorite visits.  It happened to be a very cold, gray day with light snow flurries.  As we got into our Zodiac, we saw Weddell seals, thousands and thousands of Adelie penguins, Skuas flying around, and magnificent icebergs.  Yes, we are seeing the same animals, but this setting was special.  James Ross had been feted by Franklin who was governor of Tasmania at that time (1840’s), as Ross made his way to the Antarctic.  Franklin Island is dramatic.  Period.


The long flat beach had mounds everywhere, which the Adelies prefer to make their nests.  You can see from images that the penguin males gather pebbles to create the nest.  The mounds were created by thousands of years of these penguins nesting in the same areas and are more resilient to the snow and water.


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Adelie penguins making their nests from pebbles.  Chicks (grey fuzzies) are in the background.



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The massiveness of the mountain.  You see people at the bottom and the penguin highway along the snow. 


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The Adelies stick together, and when one dives in, they all dive in.  Weddell seals lying on the beach.  We have videos of the penguins waddling along there and jumping off a ledge into the ocean and the Weddell seals scratching themselves - can’t wait to share!


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Weddell Seal


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Sleepy Adelie chick.  Snow was starting to fall and they just curl up for a nap.


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Weddell seal with tongue hanging out


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Exhausted seal


More to come and sending our very best!!


Love, 


Jody & Mel

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