Date: 1/11/25 4:10 am From: Simon Thompson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Antarctic cruise
Hi Erik
Yes, as Terry mentioned, we put together an Antarctic cruise last winter.
Derb was on the subsequent cruising, so we could swamp notes. We both
missed the Emperor Penguin, but 2 were seen on following cruises- arg!
We started the tour in Santiago and did some local birding before joining
the cruise, which terminated in Buenos Aires.
Yes, as Derb mentioned, it was very easy to scope birds from the stable bow
of the boat, although the cold wind did affect where we stood.
There are several shore excursions that one can add, although there's no
guarantee of landing with the erratic weather in that part of the world and
some of the birds you mentioned (Tussock-bird), are very tough to see due
to their preference for smaller islands and rocky outcroppings. Otherwise
you will get to see a pretty good selection along the way.
I would certainly recommend this more-affordable method of visiting
Antarctica. While we never set foot on the continent, I strongly feel that
it's better to see the wildlife and continent without adding more visitors
to this fragile environment.
We certainly plan to do this again one day
Simon
Simon RB Thompson
Asheville, NC and Saxmundham, Suffolk UK
Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
Ventures office - thanks!
On Sat, Jan 11, 2025 at 1:56 AM Erik Thomas <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> How were the land birds on that trip? Species such as Tussacbird,
> Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Canastero, Common Miner, Cobb's Wren,
> Cinnamon-bellied Ground-tyrant, Blue-and-white and Chilean Swallows,
> various sierra finches, Patagonian Mockingbird, Diuca Finch, Long-tailed
> Meadowlark, etc.?
>
> Not that I can afford to go on an Antarctic cruise, but there are plenty
> of great landbirds in that part of the world that might interest
> other people. Tubenoses are all just boring shades of black, gray, and
> white anyhow.
>
> Erik Thomas
> Raleigh, NC
>
> On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM Derb Carter <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> I want to echo Mike Tove's observations on his cruise to Antarctica. I
>> did the cruise on the same ship but a different route a year ago. Last
>> year, it departed Santiago, Chile and ended in Buenos Aries after
>> Antarctica and the Falklands, giving three at sea days on both the Pacific
>> and Atlantic sides of southern South America. The current cruise route
>> begins and ends in Buenos Aries missing most of the Pacific which has
>> several seabirds not on the Atlantic side It would be great if Princess
>> went back to the old route but the current one is still an excellent way to
>> see a lot of seabirds.
>>
>> I had 13 species of albatross, 30 other tubenoses (petrels,
>> storm-petrels, shearwaters, diving-petrels, etc) including Snow and
>> Antarctic Petrel and seven species of penguin. The only miss I had in
>> Antarctica was a long shot chance for a stray Emperor Penguin. I have a
>> public ebird trip report for the entire trip if you are interested. The
>> cruise ship is so stable you can use a scope and the Sapphire Princess has
>> a deck on the bow low enough for great viewing.
>>
>> One thing Mike did not mention is day long port calls allowing birding of
>> sites in Argentina and Chile and the Falkland Islands. While you do not
>> make landings in zodiacs on a big cruise ship in Antarctica, you can walk
>> with the King, Magellanic, and Gentoo Penguins in your day on the Falklands
>> if you want while looking at the endemic flightless Steamer Duck.
>>
>> Derb Carter
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> --
> Erik Thomas
>
