Danco Island

tony
October 19, 2015
Antarctica / birds / landscape / travel

Gentoo displaying on the nest with chicks

Danco Island, being our final Antarctic landing, was bittersweet. It has a fantastic Gentoo colony extending up to the snow covered peak with panoramic views and we could look across to nearby Cuverville Island where we had landed a week previously. We had the option of kayaking again but chose to maximise our time on land and savour every last moment in the huge silence punctuated only by penguins. The steep climb gave plenty of opportunities to photograph Gentoo Penguins with their chicks and their deliberate climb up to the high areas of the rookery from the shore far below.

Part of the Gentoo rookery with a view across to Cuverville Island in the centre of the frame

Passing parade of Gentoos trading back and forth from sea to chicks

Gentoo resting on the climb up the peak - they can overheat so stop and eat snow to cool down — Gentoo resting on the climb up the peak – they can overheat so stop and eat snow to cool down

At the summit we spent some quiet time savouring the last chance to sit alone in the snow of Antarctica surrounded by the immensity and silence of it all, knowing that our descent would mark the start of our journey back home and the beginning of the longing to return to this amazing place we had been privileged to experience

Edin savouring a final opportunity to appreciate the scale and silence from the summit of Danco Island

Back at the beach we reluctantly left in the last Zodiac to depart and then Edin and I spent a few moments in contemplative quiet at the bow, looking down at the flocks of penguins flying beneath the clear surface while some our fellow passengers flung themselves into the icy water amidst squeals that put a penguin rookery to shame.