January 3rd 2008 - Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel

Time: 06:53, 56 degrees 53.76' South, 60 degrees 14.72' West, Water Temperature 4.3 oC, Air Temperature 5.0 oC, very heavy showers, Wind West force 8 - 9, Sunrise 5.12am, Sunset 11.16pm.

Cape Horn, wind gusting force 10.

Compared to our last cruise the approach to Cape Horn was more like what one would expect, heavy seas, rain and very strong winds. One of the windows in the lecture hall got blown in and access to the decks was restricted. Watching a Wandering Albatross in this weather was incredible, with wings that look to big to control it glided effortlessly over the waves without a single wing flap. Once we turned east past the Horn conditions improved greatly and sea conditions continued to improve until we entered the Beagle Channel. David Harrowfield, the expedition Historian gave me the following information on "the Drake" and "the Horn" - Drake Passage - The body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn, Chile and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. It is named after 16th century English privateer Sir Francis Drake, although he never sailed through here. Beagle Channel-The strait separating the islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in extreme southern South America. It separates Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from several smaller islands further south. The channel is named after the ship HMS Beagle which was involved in two early hydrographic surveys of the coasts of the southern part of South America in the early 19th century. The second voyage of the beagle is best known for the participation of Charles Darwin an amateur naturalist, later famous for his theories on evolution.

Around the Horn I saw a few fur seals. These were amazing creatures to watch in the heavy seas, porpoising like large, all dark, penguins and occasionally resting on the surface with their head and neck well out of the water. I had a number of work related engagements to attend while we we in the Beagle Channel but while in my cabin changing I had a look out the window and close to the ship a female Killer Whale surfaced a few times. I am keeping a list of species seen from my cabin and will post it at the end of the season. Thanks Aidan for your comment and while I have only identified two Chilean Skuas I went out on deck and had a look at a dozen or so skuas in the vicinity of the ship and they looked like Brown Skuas to me. I will check the books again and have another look in the next few days and report back. Going to try and get a full nights sleep tonight to recharge the batteries. Hoping to go to the national park tomorrow. Bye for now.

An evening view of the Beagle Channel

Wildlife Seen on the approach to Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel

Mammals
Fur Seal 5+
Orca 1 female
Unidentified Dolphin 4

Birds
Magellanic Penguin 100+
Wandering Albatross 2
Giant Petrel 20+
Grey-headed Albatross 2
Black-browed Albatross 50+
Cape Petrel 2
Unidentified Prion 25+
Blue Petrel 1
Sooty Shearwater 300+
White-chinned Petrel 2
Wilson’s Storm Petrel 10+
Imperial Shag 60+
Brown Skua 20+
Chilean Skua 1
Kelp Gull 100+
South American Tern 60+

Time: 20:29, 54 degrees 48.85' South, 68 degrees 15.53' West, partly cloudy, dry, Water Temperature 8.3 oC, Air Temperature 12 oC, Wind West force 6-8