15th November 2015. St Andrew’s Bay, South Georgia.
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(Map of journey . . . . . . . (12. St Andrew’s Bay)).
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Chorus line passing the elephant seal.
Another landing before dawn, to St Andrew’s Bay again, that we had visited three days before. This time I managed to get onshore well before the dawn.
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Dramatic pre-dawn cloud on a remote beach on a fine morning.
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The sun has risen on the mountains but not where we are, down near the beach.
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A bull elephant seal rises up and roars as the sun peeks over the headland.
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Another bull elephant seal crtawls into view in the foreground. Close inspection reveals the scars of battle.
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Vista up the river. Elephant seals in the foreground, king penguins along the river, glacier in the distance.
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One of the elephant seals is now catching the morning light.
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A bull roars…
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Further on, the sides of the glacial river are packed with penguins.
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All are king penguins.
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A view of a wildlife metropolis, with conga lines going out to the sea for fishing. Perhaps they think there is safety in numbers, because there could be leopard seals or orcas lurking.
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Now what do you think this is? Donald Trump on the wall of his building perhaps?
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Not drowning, waving…
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A whole city of infant king penguins in front of the mountains and glacier and a kelp gull flying overhead.
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More the adults visible here.
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Once again, the vast throngs on the banks of the river and further inland.
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A reindeer antler lying on the beach.
Reindeer were introduced in the early 20th century to provide a food resource for the whalers. Numbers greatly increased after the whalers left and it was deemed that they were causing to much damage to the fragile ecosystem. Consequently they have all been killed, though some calves were previously relocated to the Falkland Islands.
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Trudging across the river…
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Down now at the edge of the sea, there were many king penguins swimming around in dense rafts, perhaps hunting shoals of fish.
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…And some emerge from the water.
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Gosh, what an excellent series Murray. I enjoyed ’em so much I had to wander thru them a second and third time!
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Thanks so much John. Great to get some good shots of somewhere I’m unlikely to be going back to.
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Could you take me along in your travel? 😀 stunning pictures! Always love watching your series! The elephant seal looks lazy (haha) and of course nothing competes Donald trump one! 😉
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Maybe if you pay for me as well! .. as I’ve been overextending my financial resources. Thanks very much though.
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[…] St Andrews Bay (Take 2) […]
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“Chorus line passing the elephant seal.” – that was exactly what I thought before I looked down at that line! I liked the “conga lines” comment too. As for the vertical reflection piece, it initially reminded me of a ‘Guild Navigator’ from the movie Dune – though having not seen/read Dune in decades, it took a while to find the reference. But in neither of those cases is it orange enough. To me it’s more like a tortoise out of its shell.
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It’s a long time since I saw Dune and I don’t remember the guild navigator. I think the head of a tortoise is quite different though I can see the reference.
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Your chorus shot is sublime what an incredible take on South Georgia – totaly incredible.
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Thanks heaps Scott!
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[…] St Andrews Bay (Take 2). […]
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