Atlantic Odyssey - At sea to South Georgia

3rd April to 4th April 2026

We were trying to avoid the worst of a weather system that seemed to be following our route to South Georgia. The Captain was cunning though and successfully attempted to stay within the calmer areas of the system. He, the crew and the planning of the expedition team did an incredible job in keeping us away from the worst of the weather.

Avoiding the storm, blue is good, purple and deep purple are really bad.....

One of the first icebergs suitably avoided

Grey Petrel on a grey damp day

Grey Petrel

Great-winged Petrels never seemed to come close to the ship or at least not when I had my camera ready.

Great-winged Petrel

White-chinned Petrel

Prions started to follow the ship darting across the wake and at times becoming very hard to see against the grey/blue sea.

Antarctic Prion

Antarctic Prion

Blue Petrel

Blue Petrel

Snowy Albatross, possibly a Tristan type showing the piano keys tail pattern

Soft-plumaged Petrel

Soft-plumaged Petrel

Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Pintado Petrel

Antarctic Fur Seal

Antarctic Fur Seals. Centre right animal in sleeping posture.

Getting closer to South Georgia.

King Penguin

Shag Rocks

Shag Rocks is the first land we have seen since leaving the Beagle Channel and home to the South Georgian subspecies of Imperial Shag.

Imperial Shags Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus

Atlantic Odyssey - At sea to South Georgia

2nd April 2026

The start of several sea days heading to South Georgia. 

Light-mantled Albatross

Northern Giant Petrel

The photo below is, I think, of an adult Snowy Albatross Diomedea [exulans] exulans. It could be a 3rd cycle male but i've opted for an adult female due to the presence of a dark cap and some dark feathers within the rump area. There was some discussion on whether it showed features of 'Antipodean' Diomedea [exulans] antipodensis. 

Adult Snowy Albatross, likely a younger adult female

Southern Giant Petrel with a 1st cycle Black-browed Albatross

Snowy Albatross, probably a mature adult male

Snowy Albatross, likely a younger adult male

Snowy Albatross

Snowy Albatross

Southern Royal Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

White-chinned Petrel

White-chinned Petrel

Southern Fulmar

Southern Fulmar

2nd cycle male Snowy Albatross

Snowy Albatross

Grey-headed Albatross

Grey-headed Albatross

Grey-headed Albatross

Atlantic Odyssey - Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel

 1st April 2026

The expedition cruise starts today. Main bags are to be dropped off near the port entrance around midday and then there are a couple of hours to kill before passengers can start to board. The departure time had been brought forward from the original plan to give us a chance of seeing whales that were in the Beagle Channel on our way to the South Atlantic. I spent the time in a lovely coffee and souvenir shop and after a Latte and portion of chocolate cake in the pouring rain made my way to the passenger entrance of the terminal.

Oceanwide expedition ship MV Hondius

Fuegian Steamer Duck in the harbour

War memorial to the fallen Argentinian Military

Argentina stating their legitimate sovereignty over the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Leaving Ushuaia - snowfall overnight

Beagle Channel

Champagne welcome

The media attention, misinformation, hype and intrusion in to the homes and families of those onboard because of the hantavirus outbreak, has meant that I've blurred the features of these people in the photo.

The Beagle Channel held hundreds of Black-browed Albatross and thousands of Sooty Shearwaters.

Black-browed Albatross and Sooty Shearwater

 

Black-browed Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

Chilean Skua

Sooty Shearwater

A distant gathering of Giant Petrels drew attention to a dead whale on which they were feeding.

Giant Petrels feeding on dead whale

Adult and juvenile Magellanic Penguins

Hauled out South American Fur Seals