Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/02/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]South Georgia is one of the most amazing places I have ever visited for sheer profusion of wildlife - the only comparable place I can think of is the Serengeti ecosystem. Our first landing was on Salisbury Plain, unfortunately on a dreary, foggy day - one can only imagine how wonderful this place must be in sunlight! During the 5 minutes of sunshine we had the entire day, I got this from my balcony on the ship: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Panoramas/antarcticpanos_001/Antarctica_20140111_2409.jpg.html When you get on shore, you see this - this is around 75% of the colony: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Panoramas/antarcticpanos_001/Salisbury-Plain-Pano.jpg.html There are an estimated 100,000 breeding pairs of King Penguins in this colony. Of course, with so much life around, you get various behaviour - the difficulty is always in isolating it in the din and stench of the milling hordes! You have exultant ones, announcing their presence in no uncertain terms: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2458.jpg.html Pairs going about late season romance - King Penguins have one of the most complicated breeding cycles amongst birds - it takes around 14 months, so at any time of the year, breeding goes on - it is not restricted to any particular season: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2834.jpg.html There are moulting birds everywhere. King Penguins moult at once - they lose and grow all their feathers at the same time, so cannot go into water or feed for the six weeks it takes: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2451.jpg.html There are fledglings at every stage of the process: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2709.jpg.html You have moulting Elephant Seals peeking with their limpid eyes from clumps of Tussock Grass: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2920.jpg.html Fur Seal bulls, on the beach, guard their harems with a wary eye: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2442.jpg.html Other Fur Seal youngsters sharpen up their skills with mock fights: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2786.jpg.html Finally, there are those who need to disconnect once in a while: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140111_2526.jpg.html Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome Cheers Jayanand