Day 3 – Arrival at the Bounties

November 10, 2022 at 12:18 pm

Approaching the Bounties from the west – Spider Island on the left, Depot Island next to it and Penguin Island on the right. In the background right Castle Island is visible.

We arrive at Bounty Islands around midday after another lumpy day steaming under sail east. Clouds burn away and the islands greet us under gorgeous blue skies.

Richie Robinson photographing our first glimpse of the Bounties.

After Richie any James sent the 360° drone for a spin over the channel between Proclamation and Spider Island, we all gear up for our first landing. Swell at the Proclamation landing site in Bucket Cove reasonably minor. Thomas, James, and Richie go ashore first to rig some guide lines up the steep cliff but by 2pm entire team plus most of the Evohe crew landed on the island.

First impression – a lot more albatross on the ground than during the 2019 visit. In many albatross nests, chicks were hatching so it could be that pairs now together at nest whereas in 2019 we were on the island 3 weeks earlier in the season, i.e. still firmly in egg incubation. Base Plateau on top of island overrun by albatross.

Salvin’s albatross ready to take flight at the top of Proclamation Island.

Establish ourselves (after albatrosses had vacated the plateau reluctantly) and start flying first drone missions with two units. Hannah with spotter Bianca covers Proclamation, Thomas and spotter Robin take care of Tunnel, Ranfurly and Spider. Even try to cover Depot, but tablet batteries run out so that only about two thirds of the island completed. Meanwhile Jeff, Dave and Klemens start blood sampling arriving penguins down at the northern main landing. Only four samples collected before we all return to the Evohe around 7.30pm.