One of the target species I was keen to see on my first visit to Antarctica in Jan 23 was Antarctic Petrel. Frustratingly, we failed to see one, despite several good Birders on the ship. When I was sorting my photos, I found several photos of an Antarctic Petrel flying past the Plancius, while I was photographing a giant iceberg. To have evidence of having one fly past me without realising it, was even more frustrating.
Not surprisingly, it was the second highest avian target species I was looking to see on my second Antarctica cruise, behind Emperor Penguin of course. I had been pleased to see two Antarctic Petrels in the Drake Passage on 2 Dec and a further two raced past the ship two days later in the Antarctic Sound. But I hadn't managed to get any photographs on either occasion. Finally, while I was on the bridge, another two appeared in front of the bridge windows, before turning back towards the back of the bridge. I headed straight out of the port bridge door and found them hanging in the ship's slipstream just above the top deck. At last, I managed to get some decent photos in the few minutes they enjoyed playing in the slipstream. Then just as quickly as they appeared, they decided to move on. They were the last Antarctic Petrels I saw.
