Ivan PapaninTop Predators ObservationsWeek 2, 8 — 14 December 2007Pack Ice Zone and Antarctic Coastal ZoneDay 8, 8 December 2007Coordinates and counts: Roughly between 66°28’S 025°00’E (07.00) and 69°00’S 021°00’E (20.00). 6 counts between 66°28’S 025°00’E (07.00) and 68°41’S 021°37’E (19.10)) Weather : Wind 3-4 Bft, with strong gusts, cloudy and cold.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin: 6-7 individuals separated. Adélie Penguin : seen in small numbers, a few small parties of 5-10 individuals, total ca 30 ind . Southern Giant Petre l: an immature at around 17.45. Pintado Petrel : 1 individual at 09.10. Antarctic Petrel: quite common, up to 15 ind. together, total at least 50 ind . Snow Petrel: idem, 50 birds, with maximum 5 ind. together. Arctic Tern: 10 individuals scattered.
Mammals:
Antarctic Minke Whale : 17 individuals ( 12 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon and at night) most around the ship in channels of water between the ice ( mostly between 7.00 and 12.30, coordinates between 66°28’S 025°00’E and 67°40’S 024°00’E). Crabeater Seal : regular in the pack ice, around waterholes, ca 15 individuals at least. Ross Seal : 1 individual at 13.40 (ca 67°40’S 023°57’E). Day 9, 9 December 2007Coordinates and Counts : roughly from 69°00’S 023°00’E (07.00) to 69°25’S 13°30’E (22.00), deep ice slowing the ship. Only 1 count at 10.50. Weather : Wind 4-5 Bft slowing to 2-3 Bft, misty in the morning, grey during the day but more sunny as the day come to its end.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin : 4-5 individuals separated. Southern Giant Petrel : 3-4 individuals, some following the ship for a while. Antarctic Fulmar : ca 5 individuals, including 3 ind . together for a while along the ship. Antarctic Petrel : quite common, up to 15 ind. together, total ca 50 ind . Snow Petrel: quite common, max 5 ind . together, total ca 50 ind . Wilson ’s Storm Petrel : 1 bird circling along the ship for a while. Antarctic Skua: 3 birds around the ship when stuck in the ice (early afternoon), + 1 ind. in the evening.
Mammals:
Crabeater Seal : common in the pack ice, around waterholes, ca 15 individuals, scattered during the day. Day 10, 10-12-2007Coordinates and Counts : roughly from 69°35’S 012°00’E (07.00) to 70°05’S 005°20’E (arrival at 17.45). Note that the ship was moving in all directions trying to avoid dense ice….Two counts between 69°23’S 007°50’E (08.30) and 69°24’S 007°30’E (11.45). Weather : Wind 2-3 Bft, sunny all day and night.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin : 4-5 individuals separated, ca 25 ind. at Five East . Adelie Penguin : Seen at Five East (see further). Antarctic Petrel : quite common, up to 15 ind. together, total ca 50 ind . Snow Petrel : quite common, max 5 ind. together, total ca 50 individuals. Wilson ’s Storm Petrel : 1 bird circled around the ship when mooring. Arctic Tern : 4 individuals around 05.00.
Mammals :
Crabeater Seal : common in the pack ice, around waterholes, ca 15 individuals. Weddell Seal : 1 individual on the sea ice at « Five East » Bay. Day 11 & 12, 11—12 December 2007Coordinates and Counts: Moored at Five East (70°05’S 005°20’E). Weather : slight wind, sunny with some clouds and local mist.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin : ca 20-25 ind. at Five East, mostly coming on the sea ice in the evening, and seen feeding close to the Ice shelf during the day. Adelie Penguin : a small colony (max 75 individuals) at Five East. However, we don’t know if the birds were breeding there. Antarctic Petrel : a group of 15 ind. followed the ship along the shelf, and around 50 birds in the evening at the Bay. Snow Petrel : a few, max 5 ind. together, in total around 20 ind. in the Bay. Some tens at night going south-south-west over the continent, so probably breeding further south. Wilson ’s Storm Petrel : 1 ind. circled around the moored ship from time to time (probably different individuals involved). Antarctic Skua : 2 ind. flying over the ship at around 13.00 on the 11th.
Mammals:
Arnoux’s Beaked Whale : 6 individuals (3 adults with 3 calves, at one time each adult seen along a young so probably 3 females with their respective juveniles) at « Five East » Bay between 14.30 and 15.20 on the 11th, the group staying along the sea ice edge and diving 3 times (duration underwater each time between 10-20 minutes) breathing for 6-7 minutes, last seen at the western edge of the Bay. Killer Whale : a big pod of minimum 25 individuals (more probably 30), including 5 adult males entering the Bay and then continuing to the east at around 23.15 on the 11th. Pod comprising all ages (including small young animals) and sex, for what we could see at the distance. End of Day 12 & Day 13, 12—13 December 2007Coordinates and Counts: Departure at 20.00 on the 12 th from « Five East » (70°05’S 005°20’E) to 69°27’S 012°18’E ( 22.00’ ); 1 count on the 12 th at 21.00, 4 counts on the 13 th, end at 22.00. Weather: Quite windy and cloudy.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin: ca 5 individuals on Ice floes on 12th, idem on 13th. Adelie Penguin : 4 individuals get close to the ship when she was stopped for a while. Antarctic Petrel : regular in groups of 5-10 individuals, total ca 50 ind. on each evening. Snow Petrel : a few, around 15 on the 12th.
Mammals:
Crabeater Seal : On the 12th, only one individual seen during a one-hour count between 21.00 and 22.00. On the 13th, only 4 seals (3 Crabeater and 1 sp.) sighted in four hours counts, between 06.30 and 22.00. Day 14, 14 December 2007Coordinates and Counts : From 69°30’S 017°45’E to the arrival at Crown Bay at 70°04’S 022°59’E (19.00). Weather : cloudy, with some wind.
Birds:
Emperor Penguin : ca 5 individuals on Ice floes. Adelie Penguin : 4 individuals get close to the ship in the evening. Southern Giant Petrel : 2 to 3 individuals, including 1 at Crown Bay . Antarctic Fulmar : 2 ind., including one at Crown Bay . Antarctic Petrel : frequent, in groups of 5-10 ind., total ca 75 ind . Snow Petrel : regular, total ca 50 birds. Antarctic Skua : 1 ind. when arriving at Crown Bay . Arctic Tern : 6 ind. together at around 14.00. Mammals :
Crabeater Seal : 4 seals seen in five hours counts, 2 Crabeater and 2 sp. between 09.00 and 22.00. Weddell Seal : 1 ind. (probable id.) at 12.45
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