Seals rule

Fur seals are territorial and really do rule the beaches from September through December.  Tony Soper in Antarctica: A Guide to the Wildlife writes ... be sure to give them a wide berth because they can charge across a beach faster than you can and they have an aggressive demeanor.  After our experience I would consider this an understatement.  We were unable to land at one of the sites due to the number of aggressive fur seals, and when we were on beaches with large numbers it was a bit like walking through a minefield.  Clacking large rocks together was, in my experience, the only way to ward off an attack.  Shouting "stop" had absolutely no effect.

The photo above is of an Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) 

Seal spa on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

Fur seal disagreement on South Georgia

Fur seal mother and pup at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia

Seal relationship "on the rocks"

In the water...

Out of the water...

Elephant seals at Gold Harbour

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the largest seals in the world.  Although they also display some aggressive behavior during mating season they were quite placid on the 30th of November, 2008.

"Weaner" elephant seal posing for the camera

Bull elephant seal

The name of these seals comes partly from their large size and from the trunk-like proboscis shown on the older bull in this photo.  Females do not have these.

Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) on an ice flow

Weddell seal asleep on the snow at Neko Harbour

Weddell seals are found farther south than any other seal and they are associated with ice -- as evidenced by the two photos above.

This completes the seals.  We did get a couple glimpses of leopard seals but like whales, flying albatrosses, and other birds in flight, I did not get any decent photos.  I did not even SEE any whales, but I think I have mentioned that before.