Day 13 – 8 January 2013. Northward bound across Drake Passage.

Up before the wake up call, did some work on the blog and then off for breaky. Mary is not so good this morning and has ditched the idea of breaky and has retired to the cabin, called Dr John, has some drugs and is sleeping off the early signs of seasickness – poor bugger.

After breaky I donned a warmer jacket and ventured to explore some of the magnificent albatrosses following the ship. Then to the bridge to watch and wonder as we head northwards across the Drake Passage.

Some of the birds sighted include:

·         Brown browed Albatross – very common

·         Cape Petrels – in their hundreds – lovely little birds

·         Antarctic prions – beautifully marked grey birds with black, very hard to photograph

·         Northern and Southern Giant Petrel

·         Royal Albatross.

Down for a cuppa and to check on Mary again, she is up and about and off to Oceans and Krill lecture.

Then back to the bridge and the decks for some (many, many) more birds. We have now crossed the Antarctic Convergence, where the cool seas meet warmer seas of 3-4degrees which brings a lot of action as stuff is stirred up from the ocean floor…sort of…I think.

 Not much doing today, it is very quiet on board ,with many catching up on missed sleep or doing their best to avoid or deal with seasickness.

I'll do my best to identify the birds, but could get em wrong.

 Brown browed albatross.

 Antarctic Prion.

  Antarctic Prion.

 NOt sure of this one, it's a different Albatross  - maybe Sooty or Grey Headed???

 Sunshining through the clouds way out there...

 and looking in another direction, quite grey and rainy.

 A Giant Petrel - I think.

  A Giant Petrel - I think.

 Maybe a Royal or Great Albatross???

  Maybe a Royal or Great Albatross???

 Giant Petrel.

 Two petrels?

 Two Petrels - having a bit to say the second one.

 errr... dunno.

 Petrel -again I think.

 Not sure, could be Wandering or Royal Albatross or not.

 Liked the sun catching this guys back.

Not sure, could be Wandering or Royal Albatross or not.

 The Captains Desk, the chart is changed to the various areas we sailed...very interesting stuff.

 Bad selfie, showing the lecture room on level 2

 and again

 

  Brown browed albatross.

  Brown browed albatross.

 Petrel I reckon.

  Brown browed albatross.

Not sure, could be Wandering or Royal Albatross or not.

 Petrel, look how close they soar to the water.

  Brown browed albatross.

  Cape Petrel.

 Petrel...

  Cape Petrel.

 

 Cape Petrel.

Cape Petrel. This little guy is using his foot down for a bit of balance, which they did a bit.