The Rosenthals!

We left at 0530 to get the Birders to a few large Penguin nesting sites in a specially protected area about 20 miles away from station. It's a big job and never before done successfully from station before. But the weather was perfect and we had a good plan.

Gerlache island in the distance! 

Perfect day for boating!

Neat ice in a new place, this area and the surrounding 20 miles have only been visited about about 65 recorded people ever. 

It's a very very special and protected area. Great place for a Weddell seal nap. 

And there are so so so many penguins here! (Super smelly! And loud!)

More seal naps!

Chinny head scratches. 

Birders counting birds.

Fur seal scratches. 

Birders recovering some flotsam. Even in the most untouched places there is boat trash. 

More penguins to count!

Very cool orange lichen. 

And more counting. 

Birders off to work. 

Perfect day to spend 15 hours in the field. Not too sunny, not to rainy, and most importantly it's calm. 

Gentoo pip!

More counting!

Off to feed the chicks, it's a long walk!

There is a scientist looking at penguin poop, so it was my job all day to collect fresh poop samples and write down if it was an adult, chick and which species. 

Nice rock.

More nice rocks. 

On our way home! About 1400 birds counted!

Long and amazing day! Definitely one of the coolest, most special, least visited places I have ever been!