17th December 2007 - Today we sailed south towards our next stop, the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas). At 6.30am our position was 45 degrees 04.05 South / 62 degrees 39.81 west, recent showers clearing later in the day with one fog patch over the continental shelf edge, water temperature 13.3 degrees, air temperature 13.0 degrees, wind Northwest Force 3 later turning South force 1-2, almost flat calm at times.


A Giant Petrel following the ship south to the Falkland Islands.

At about half seven this morning we saw 6 Southern Right Whales in a fairly small area. It was amazing to see so many of them together in a fairly small area. The are on their migration south to Antarctic waters. We saw 15 in total today. I also saw a Sperm Whale and about 10 Peale's Dolphins and one Sea Lion. It was incredible to see a total of at least 12 Magellanic Penguins in the middle of the ocean. We also saw Great Shearwater 20+, Manx Shearwater 2, Sooty Shearwater 3, Giant Petrel 50+, White-chinned Petrel 100+, Black-browed Albatross 80+,
Royal Albatross 9, Wandering Albatross 8+,Magellanic Penguin 15+
Arctic/Long-tailed Skua 1, Pomarine Skua 1, Falkland’s Brown Skua 1, Cape Petrel (Pintado Petrel) 5 and Prion Species (unidentified) 9. Another breathtaking day, I am definitely dreaming and should wake up and minute. Bye for now.