Monthly Archives: December 2024

LEMAIRE CHANNEL

Posted on December 29, 2024 by bilyreid

Lemaire Channel is a strait off Antarctica, between Kyiv Peninsula in the mainland’s Graham Land and Booth Island. Nicknamed “Kodak Gap” because of its many photographic opportunities. LEMAIRE CHANNEL PANORAMA (To guage the grandeur of scale: Double click and try and find … Continue reading →

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PETRELS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

Posted on December 28, 2024 by bilyreid

Petrels are marine seabirds with a curved beak that spend most of their lives flying over the ocean. All petrels have prominent tube-shaped nostrils. These are either on the sides of their bill (albatrosses) or on the top (all the … Continue reading →

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THE START OF OUR ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE

Posted on December 28, 2024 by bilyreid

The heavens smile as we depart Ushuaia down the Beagle Channel for points south. I take this as a sign that this is going to be a great trip! (Hint: I couldn’t imagine how true that prediction would be!)

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CHEESEBURGERS ……..IN PARADISE??!!

Posted on December 27, 2024 by bilyreid

One of the problems in the Heroic Age of polar adventure was fresh food…or indeed, any food at all. Many an expedition ended in starvation if not outright cannabalism. Take the american Greely expedition to Ellesmere Island in 1883. Twenty … Continue reading →

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FELIZ NAVIDAD

Posted on December 24, 2024 by bilyreid

Here it is. Another Christmas eve and it seems that my celebrations might be a bit delayed this year. Ran into a bit of bother on exiting Ushuaia after my Antarctic adventures. It’s a long story so let me back … Continue reading →

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PEALE’S DOLPHIN

Posted on December 24, 2024 by bilyreid

More cetacean life from the Drake Passage. At times pods of dolphin could be seen cavorting with joyful playfulness as they body surfed off our bow wave. After many failures with focus and settings, I finally got it right and … Continue reading →

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VINGT TROIS DECEMBRE

Posted on December 23, 2024 by bilyreid

It’s never Christmas in my world until I have heard this song at least once of a young Montreal boy eagerly contemplating the rapid approach of Christmas back in the 1960s. Now a Quebec classic. “Parce que je voulais me … Continue reading →

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THAR SHE BLOWS!!

Posted on December 21, 2024 by bilyreid

Or how the early bird gets the worm! As we approach the Antarctic, both ice and cetaceans start to make an appearance in the old whaling waters of the Drake Passage. Early one morning I stood alone on the bow … Continue reading →

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SEA LION POD

Posted on December 20, 2024 by bilyreid

A Sea Lion pod spices up our journey across the Drake Strait. (click to enlarge views) Do a double click on the head of the male. He seems a little pissed with our presence!

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SOUTHERN FULMAR

Posted on December 20, 2024 by bilyreid

SOUTHERN FULMAR IN FLIGHT This bird of the southern ocean is as graceful as it is handsome. Often seen trailing our ship. Click twice for full view (click and reclick in sequence on image to enlarge to full screen view)