On the Rocks

22nd January 2016 Part 1
The ship moved overnight to Two Hummock Island (Say what you see). Near this island is the Hydrurga Rocks which is our first landing for the day at 9:00am. This small island is called Hydrurga after the Leopard Seal, but as the guide said last night it's Murphy's law that we are unlikely to see them here.
Before the passengers go ashore a zodic with the guides is sent first to check out the landing and to see where we will be able to walk. They also take dry bags of emergency equipment, tents sleeping bags and food to leave on shore whilst people are on land. This is just in the unlikely event that we can't return to the ship.
On this landing there was again 100s of Chinstrap Penguins, I defy any one not to see them woggleing along and not have a smile on your face. There was also one Fur Seal and a number of Weddell Seals. All the Seals were resting on land. The party got split in two at one point when one of the Weddell Seals decided it was time to go back to the sea and crossed our path. You obviously can't get too close to the animals and the guides are particular careful of the Fur Seals. They can lift themselves up on all four flips and can run quite fast. They are similar to sealions.The Weddell's move by contracting their abdominal muscles. You don't want to disturb the Fur Seal in case it chases you and you don't want to disturb the penguins in case they move away from the nest and a Skua takes advantage and takes a penguin egg or chick. Now obviously Skua's will take penguin eggs or chicks for food, it's nature, but we don't want to be responsible for it or to have made it easy for the Skua.