Our final day in the Falklands was a stunning day filled with sunshine and amazing bird encounters. The morning was spent hiking at Carcass Island, exploring the place through photography and getting the chance to know the local family that lives there over a great tea time spread. The afternoon we sailed around the corner to West Point Island, a place owned by wonderful couple who was eager to share their home and sheep farm with us. The highlight of this beautiful place are the nesting black-browed albatross and rock hopper penguins. We finished our fantastic hikes with a barbecue on the shore with great views and wonderful company.
2/26/2025
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National Geographic Endurance
Cierva Cove and Palaver Point, Antarctica
We arrived at the picturesque Cierva Cove early this morning, greeted by beautifully calm conditions, fresh snow on the mountains, and a crisp air temperature just below zero. We launched the Zodiacs for a wildlife-filled cruise among the icebergs. We encountered gentoo penguins returning to the colony to feed their chicks, a beautiful, young leopard seal on the ice, and, the special treat of the day, an incredibly curious Antarctic minke whale! The whale swam from boat to boat, repeatedly swimming around and underneath us, clearly looking up at the Zodiacs and the awe-struck people in them! After a lunchtime repositioning of National Geographic Endurance , we dropped the Zodiacs once again. This time we were landing ashore at Palaver Point for a good leg stretch! A haven for penguin lovers, with its extensive chinstrap penguin colony, the landing site was busy with a mixture of molting adult birds, fledged chicks, and a few young chicks still on the nest begging for food from their parents. We had the chance for a snowy climb to the viewpoint to take in the last views of the White Continent before National Geographic Endurance’s last departure from Antarctica for the season!
