Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/01/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The first port of call on the Antarctic trip was the Falklands. Falklands has quite a variety of bird life, and is a critical habitat for the Black-browed Albatross - 80% of the breeding pairs in the world nest in the Falklands. Our first landing was supposed to be on Sealion Island, but adverse sea conditions scuttled that plan. So we did two landings on Bleaker Island, on opposite sides. Bleaker Island is a privately owned island where a novel experiment is currently under way. A part of the island is fenced off for sheep rearing, and the rest is left in totally natural condition for endemic wild life. The first landing was on a beach which had both a Magellanic Penguin colony, a Blue-eyed Shag colony as well a small Gentoo Penguin colony. Magellanic Penguins are the southernmost species of "Warm Weather Penguins", which include the Jackass Penguins of South Africa and the Galapagos Penguins amongst others. Penguin Highway: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140108_0833.jpg.html Gang on the Beach: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140108_0906.jpg.html Coming Home: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140108_1271.jpg.html Stepping Out: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140108_1060.jpg.html Skua Nesting: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140109_1336.jpg.html Opportunist: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140109_1432.jpg.html Blue-eyed Shag: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140109_1501.jpg.html Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome Cheers Jayanand