Monday 26 December 2011

Saunders Island 02/12/11 (part 2)

Although the King Penguins were the real stars this afternoon the tameness of the beautiful Dolphin Gulls takes some beating.
Dolphin Gull
The antics of the Rockhopper Penguins playing in the shallows was a sight to remember forever.
Rockhopper





 The beach was alive with birds Upland Geese, Steamer Ducks, Roackhoppers, Magellanic, King and the superb Gentoo Penguins.
Gentoo Penguin and Upland Geese

Falkland Island Steamer Duck


Gentoo Penguin

 The Gentoo's were coming and going from there fishing expeditions and feeding hungry babies.






Magellanic Penguin

Saturday 24 December 2011

Dungeness

1 Great White Egret and 3 Little Egrets on the Royal military Canal behind Wyevale Garden centre mid morning on my down to Dungeness. 
Great White Egret

Caspian Gull
 In the gull roost at Dungeness at least 1 Caspian gull but no Glaucous Gull today.
At sea 11.00-11.30  172 Auks sw, 27 Kittiwake sw, 53 Gannets sw, 3 Common Scoter sw, and 4 Red Throated Divers sw.


 As I walked the track to Hanson Hide a Hen Harrier was hunting in front of the screen hide and eventually flew across the pit and out towards Burrowes Pit.
From the hide 1 Great White Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Harriers, the Long Tailed Duck and red head Smew could be seen distantly at the SE end of the pit also 15+ Goldeneye and the usual wild fowl.
Hen Harrier


Friday 23 December 2011

Saunders Island 02/12/11 PM (part1)

After sailing from Carcass Island we anchored off Saunders Island, which looked like a Mediterranean island with its sandy beaches lapped by clear blue sea and clear blue skies. This was going to be the final landing of our brilliant trip and what a landing this was.    
We only had a few hours here. I could have spent a week just photographing and watching the King Penguins alone.
Sorry about the King Penguin overload but it was really tough sorting through these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
King Penguins




















Thursday 22 December 2011

Carcass Island 02/12/11 A.M.

Again we woke a smooth sea off Carcass Island to glorious blue skies and temperatures in double figures. We had the choice of being dropped off at Leopard Beach and a 4 kilometer hike to the pick up point and tea rooms  with only 2 hrs in which to do it, or being taken directly to the pick up point where we knew we could find Cobb's Wren and spend time looking for Falkland Island specialities. I chose the latter along with 2 others in our group.
After breakfast the Zodiacs took us to the quay, Rock Cormorants were sitting on the jetty and Night Herons, Steamer ducks, Magellanic Penguins, Magellanic Oystercatchers, Blackish Oystercatchers and Dolphin Gulls were on the shore.
Rock Cormorant
As time was short we headed straight into the Tussac grass looking for the Wren. We saw a movement and found a very confiding Falkland Island Snipe and eventually found a couple more. 
Falkland Island Snipe




Black Throated Finch

Next we found a Black Throated Finch the first of several and then a Cobb's Wren being very elusive in the tall Tussac Grass and Gorse.
After a while good views of the Wren were obtained and i went down to the beach to look for waders where the first bird i found foraging out in the open on the beach was another very confiding Cobb's Wren. After spending time photographing this bird it became apparent that there were several of them on the shore.  
Cobb's Wren

Cobb's Wren




Magellanic Oystercatcher
Beside the shore path nesting Magellanic and Blackish Oystercatchers and Flightless Steamer Ducks and a couple of Night Herons were in the rock pools.

Blackish Oystercatcher
With time marching on we made our way to the Tea room. On the way a Southern Caracara sat on the hillside and numerous Chimanga Carcara's, several Turkey Vultures, Long Tailed Meadowlarks and Black Chinned Siskins were seen. After a quick cup of tea we were taken back to the ship and set sail for an afternoon visit to Saunders Island.
Southern Carcara

Ruddy Headed Goose

Magellanic Penguin

Night Heron

Dolphin Gull

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Black Browed Albatross Colony

This short video gives a taste of the huge colony of Black Browed Albatrosses on Steeple Jason an absolutely awesome sight.