The Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea blends into the icy landscape perfectly.
This is a closer photo of the Snow Petrel. It nests on ice-free cliffs but spends its time foraging over icy waters close to shore.
The Giant Petrels, like this Southern Giant Petrel *Macronectes giganteus
*are appropriately names, as large as the mid-sized albatrosses. They tend to follow ships, and were constant companinons on the trip.
Some of the icebergs were very blue in hue.
The edges of many of the glaciers were simply awesome.
What would a trip to Antarctica be without penguins. This is an Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae at Paulet Island.
These Chinstrap Penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus have pulled out of the water onto an iceberg. I like the scientific name for this species, very appropriate as they are one of the southern-most breeding penguins.
This Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea is one of the cryptic species in the Prion family. It is larger and more clearly marked than most of the other prions, with the white tip to the tail and prominent cap and collar.
Stay tuned for more photos and stories from this trip.
Good birding.
