Marion Island cruise (1 Viewer)

[bedfontbirder]

Anyone been on one of the Marion Island cruises out of Durban with Birdlife SA? Any tips or recommendations about getting there from London or any part of the trip once out there, please.

 

[pbjosh]

I’ve not been on one but it’s not really a Marion cruise it’s a long pelagic. They sort of dangle the bait of “we are pending permissions for Marion Island” non stop but have never had the permission. That doesn’t mean it can’t be a worthwhile trip, just wanted to share in case you weren’t aware. If they do at some point get permission they will have a conga line of interested parties haha.

 

[Antik]

I'm going! And agree that it's unlikely we will get to see the shorebirds on Marion, but look forward to the "long pelagic" nonetheless.

Edit: there is a thread on bord forum about the previous Marion cruise. Can't find it now but should be easy search. Second tip is to sign up for the seabird id workshops bird life sa is running before the trip if nothing else then at leat to get the vibe.

 

[bedfontbirder]

I’ve not been on one but it’s not really a Marion cruise it’s a long pelagic. They sort of dangle the bait of “we are pending permissions for Marion Island” non stop but have never had the permission. That doesn’t mean it can’t be a worthwhile trip, just wanted to share in case you weren’t aware. If they do at some point get permission they will have a conga line of interested parties haha.

A SA friend who hasn't been said there is no landing on the island nor are boats allowed within 12 nautical miles of it. So I guess you wouldn't even get a glimpse of the island if that's so.

 

[pbjosh]

A SA friend who hasn't been said there is no landing on the island nor are boats allowed within 12 nautical miles of it. So I guess you wouldn't even get a glimpse of the island if that's so.

Yes this is the case as I understand it, you can't get within a certain radius of the island so you miss the spectacle that the island itself must be and I presume the chances at the very difficult to access Kerguelen Tern, Crozet Shag, and Black-faced Sheathbill are all near zero.

 

[Jos Stratford]

A SA friend who hasn't been said there is no landing on the island nor are boats allowed within 12 nautical miles of it. So I guess you wouldn't even get a glimpse of the island if that's so.

The island is clearly visible at that range unless cloud/fog and the sea is a positive soup of albatrosses, penguins, etc at the permitted closest approach, but near zero chance of the sheathbill etc. There was, and is, no discussion of landing on the island - what they are hoping is permission to go closer than the 12 nm exclusion limit. This was not granted last time, but the trip was still excellent.

This year's boat is Durban - Durban, rather than out of Cape Town, which means the birding on route out is likely to be far less good. And for foreign visitors, it is much more expensive than last time.

 

[bedfontbirder]

The island is clearly visible at that range unless cloud/fog and the sea is a positive soup of albatrosses, penguins, etc at the permitted closest approach, but near zero chance of the sheathbill etc. There was, and is, no discussion of landing on the island - what they are hoping is permission to go closer than the 12 nm exclusion limit. This was not granted last time, but the trip was still excellent.

This year's boat is Durban - Durban, rather than out of Cape Town, which means the birding on route out is likely to be far less good. And for foreign visitors, it is much more expensive than last time.

Still a darn site cheaper than Ushuaia or NZ, albeit a different mix of species. 😀

 

[bedfontbirder]

The island is clearly visible at that range unless cloud/fog and the sea is a positive soup of albatrosses, penguins, etc at the permitted closest approach, but near zero chance of the sheathbill etc. There was, and is, no discussion of landing on the island - what they are hoping is permission to go closer than the 12 nm exclusion limit. This was not granted last time, but the trip was still excellent.

This year's boat is Durban - Durban, rather than out of Cape Town, which means the birding on route out is likely to be far less good. And for foreign visitors, it is much more expensive than last time.

Anyone try to tick any birds on the island through a scope from that distance? 😄

 

[bedfontbirder]

The island is clearly visible at that range unless cloud/fog and the sea is a positive soup of albatrosses, penguins, etc at the permitted closest approach, but near zero chance of the sheathbill etc. There was, and is, no discussion of landing on the island - what they are hoping is permission to go closer than the 12 nm exclusion limit. This was not granted last time, but the trip was still excellent.

This year's boat is Durban - Durban, rather than out of Cape Town, which means the birding on route out is likely to be far less good. And for foreign visitors, it is much more expensive than last time.

On a more serious note. It's presumably more efficient to fly direct to Durban rather than Jo'burg and then fly to Durban. It's certainly cheaper looking at flight prices. And, I assume there are hotels or stopover places at the airport pre and post cruise?

 

[bedfontbirder]

I guess ultimately, is it worth the cost?

 

[Jos Stratford]

I'll give my perspective on the last four posts a little later this evening, more time to reply in depth 👍

I guess ultimately, is it worth the cost?