Penguin Feeding, a Whale of a Tail

whale tail

Photographs similar to this are the goal of many whale photographers. The whale tail only pops out of the water when the whale is on its way down, diving deep into the ocean to feed on plankton.

The whale tail coming up and out of the water happens much less often than the more common breaking the surface for air and feeding near the surface.  Seeing the tail out of the water like this indicates the whale is diving down deep to feed.  All the photographers set their camera to motor drive and press the shutter down time after time and get no sign of a tail.  One in 20 sightings, or so it seems, result in the whale fluke rising out of the water.

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Antarctica at Last

 

lone penguin

A lone penguin stretches and seems to take in the view.

Many tourists visiting Antarctica fly one way and cruise the other. That is exactly what we did.   We flew from Punta Arenas, Chile to Antarctica and cruised the Drake Passage to Ushuaia, Argentina on our return.  However, just getting to the take-off point for Antarctica from Punta Arenas is no easy task.  Weather conditions flying from Punta Arenas are very uncertain, casting doubt on any planned take off.  The weather window must be constantly studied and adjusted. Continue reading