Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/03/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I just have a handful of photographs processed and ready, and thought I would post them before Neela & I leave for Ndutu in Tanzania tomorrow for a 10 day trip which also includes two other LUG couples - Howard and Esther Cummer and Alastair and Helen Firkin.. This is a place in the Antarctic Peninsula called Cuverville Island, which has a Gentoo Penguin breeding colony high up on a hill fronted by an extremely rocky beach leading to open water. The first photo is of the only land bird that makes its home in Antarctica, the Snowy Sheathbill, which can be found scavenging around the penguin colonies: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140118_5713.jpg.html The Gentoo Penguins come down a very well traversed "highway" from the rookery to the rocky beach front in order to access the open water to feed: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140118_5694.jpg.html Then they literally hop onto the rocks: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140118_5663.jpg.html There were a few Weddell Seals around, too. This one just woke up as I approached and launched into a few luxurious yawns: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140118_5720.jpg.html More interesting, though, was to watch these seals slithering and sliding over and around the rocks, like gigantic slugs, to get to the open water. Like most animals/birds here, you could get close without any fear - very surprising, considering the wholesale slaughter of these creatures that took place in these parts for a good part of the 20th century: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140118_5808.jpg.html Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome. Cheers Jayanand