Ivan Papanin

Top Predators Observations

Week 3, 15 — 21 December 2007

Pack Ice Zone and Antarctic Coastal Zone

Days 15—19, 15/19 December 2007

Coordinates and Counts Ship moored at “ Crown Bay ” (70°04’ S 022°59’ E)

Weather : changing, sunny or cloudy, but no strong winds or snowfalls.

Birds:

Emperor Penguin : 1 individual in the sea ice close to the ship on 16th.

Adelie Penguin : 1 individual curious, came to see the Weddell Seal on the 17 th.

Antarctic Fulmar : 1 individual on 16th ; 2 ind. on 19th ; 1 ind. on 20 th.

Pintado ( Cape ) Petrel  : 1 individual on the 19 th.

Antarctic Petrel : 1 ind. on the 16th, 17th, 18th; min. 10 ind. on the 19th ; 2 ind. on 20 th.

Snow Petrel : a few birds in the Bay, but many birds going south over the ice shelf: groups of 30-50 ind. not infrequent, hundred birds involved.

Wilson ’s Storm Petrel : 1 ind. on the 15th, 3 ind. on the 16th, 3 ind. on 17th, 5 ind. on 18, including pursuit and display, 1 bird circled around the ship and landed a few times on the ship (calling) on the 19 th. Most birds seen on the evening, and movement over the continent (ice shelf) were observed.

Antarctic Skua : l2 ind. on 16th, 5 ind. together some km inland on the same day, 2x 1 ind. on 17th, 3 ind. on 18th and 19th, 2 ind. on 20th.

Mammals  :

15-12-2007 : Nothing.

16-12-2007

Weddell Seal  : 1 ind. sleeping on the sea ice at Crown Bay .

Antarctic Minke Whale  : 1 ind. in Crown Bay , diving close to the edge of the Ice shelf at 00.30. Another sighting of 1 individual at 16.00, and 2 ind. together at 21.00.

17-12-2007

Weddell Seal  : the same individual still sleeping on the sea ice.

18-12-2007 : Nothing.

19-12-2007 : Nothing.

Day 20, 20 December 2007

Coordinates and Counts : Departure from Crown Bay at the end of the day

(70°04’ S 022°59’E) to 69°10’S 022°58’E. 1 count between 21.30 and 22.30.

Weather : Wind 2-3 Bft, sunny all night long.

Birds:

Emperor Penguin : 3 individuals.

Adelie Penguin : 4 individuals.

Antarctic Fulmar : 2 individuals.

Antarctic Petrel : 2 individuals.

Snow Petrel : 20 to 30 individuals.

Mammals :

Crabeater Seal  : 3 ind. « at sea » in the pack ice in the evening.

Weddell Seal  : The same seal back on the sea ice of Crown Bay .

Day 21, 21 December 2007

Coordinates and Counts: Roughly from 67°30’S 022°04’E ( 08.00’ ) to 65°22’S 021°35’E ( 22.15’ ).

Weather : Wind 3-5 Bft, cloudy with some sun.

Birds:

Emperor Penguin : 5 ind .

Adelie Penguin : 7-8 individuals.

Southern Giant Petrel  : 1 ind .

Antarctic Petrel : ca 75 individuals

Snow Petrel : ca 100 individuals

Arctic Tern : 20 to 25 individuals.

Mammals:

Crabeater Seal  : 3 ind . + 1 seal sp in the pack ice.

Southern Bottlenose Whale : 3 individuals close to the ship at 21.15’ (at ca. S 65°37’ 22° 30’E).

Previous Week — Week 2

Next Week — Week 4

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