Steeple Jason 01/12/11 A.M.

We woke to find our selves anchored off Steeple Jason Island (one of the Falkland Islands) under clear blue skies and temperatures in double figures surrounded by Black Browed Alatrosses.

After breakfast the Zodiacs took us ashore where we had  a tricky landing  scrambling up the rocks to the shore.



Tussac Bird

 

The amazingly tame Tussac birds and Austral thrushes greeted us.

Austral Thrush female

Brown Skua

As we headed hiked towards the Black Browed Albatross Colony, we had to pass a Gentoo rookery  patrolled by Brown Skuas. Time was short so the Gentoo's were not given the time they deserved.

Gentoo Penguin

Striated Carcara



Striated Caracara (Johnny Rook)

Striated Carcara's were much in evidence even attacking some unwary passengers heads. Dark Faced Ground Tyrants, Black Throated Finches, Ruddy Headed Geese and Upland Geese were on the Hillside.

Dark Faced Ground Tyrant

As we walked round the side of the hillside the vista below opened up!
                                                         WOW!!!!!!

c.200,000 Black Browed Albatrosses

Rockhoppers

Rockhoppers were nesting among the Albatrosses.

Brown Skuas



Brown Skuas with Gentoo egg

As we made our way back to the ship we found this Steamer Duck with young.

Falkland Islands Steamer Duck with ducklings

Dungeness and Walland

At The Military Canal, Hamstreet first thing this morning 1 Great White Egret with 4 Little Egrets. At Midley still 10 Bewick Swans. On The Point the ever present Glaucous Gull. On the sea a few Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks and Divers.

Highlight on the reserve was a Firecrest near the Denge Marsh Hide and 20+ Tree Sparrows on the feeders at Boulderwall farm.

Back on Walland this afternoon the 10 Bewicks had become 12, 8+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Ring tail Hen Harriers, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 more Bewicks with a flock of Mutes, 6 Snipe and 200+ Golden Plover.

29/11 - 01/12/11 North to the Falklands

Coming North The Convergence was relatively smooth  but once again the Drake Passage was blowing force 7 but thankfully no sea sickness this time.
We encountered most the species we saw going south but the Sooty Albatross was a trip tick at least to most of us and unusual find in this area. A Humpback Whale and several Fin Whales were seen but all were distant.

Northern Giant Petrel (Red tip to Bill)

Southern Giant Petrel

Southern Fulmar

Humpback Whale

Fin Whales

Black Bellied Petrel

Black Browed Albatross

These Blck Brows were just a taster to what we were going to see in the Falklands 

Sooty Albatross

Juv. Southern Royal Albatross

Blue Petrel

Juv. Grey Headed Albatross

Adult Grey Headed Albatross

Sooty Shearwater

White Chinned Petrels

Light Mantled Sooty Albatross

Common Diving Petrel



Slender Billed Prion

Hythe and Littlestone

This morning no sign of the Great White Egrets at Hamstreet also no sign of the Great Northern Diver on the canal at Hythe. At Nickolls Quarry West Hythe the Rough Legged Buzzard put in several appearances but kept away from the camera, also 2 Common Snipe, 2 Chiffchaff and a Stonechat.

 At Littlestone Golf Course no sign of any Snow Buntings. On the shore 100+ Knot,150+ Dunlin, 40+ Sanderling and 1 Grey Plover. A superb adult male Merlin sat on the beach but was flushed by dogs before i could close enough. From 2.30 P.M. onwards 3 Short Eared Owls hunted the centre of the Golf Course to far away for anything but heavily cropped record pictures.

Esperanza and Elephant Island 27-28/11/11

On our way back north we stopped at Esperanza Station in Hope Bay the permanent Argentinian Antarctic base manned all year.

 The stone structure above was home to 17 men from a wrecked ship for 7 months until there rescue.

this toilet is now disused

Part of a Gentoo colony on Esperanza

White Nellie (Southern Giant Petrel) flying round the station

 Next morning we arrived at Elephant Island where we were very lucky to be able to make a Zodiac landing. Normally it is far to rough to land on this rocky island.
Ashore we were greeted by Elephant Seals and a few Weddell seals.

 A few Chinstraps and Gentoo's were on the beach.

 On the way back to the ship the Zodiac went to a small cove where there was a small colony of Macaroni Penguins.

Dunge and Walland

 On the way to Dungeness 2 Great White Egrets  in the Royal Military Canal at Hamstreet by the Wyevale garden centre.
At The Point this morning just a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Guillemots off shore. By the fishing boats the 2w Glaucous Gull and an adult Yellow Leged Gull.
On the ARC from Hanson 2 Great White Egrets, Bittern feeding on the edge of the reeds, Long Tailed Duck, Black necked Grebe, 3 red head Smew at the south end, 14 Goldeneye, 1 Black Tailed Godwit and the usual wild fowl. At Boulderwall Farm 12 Tree Sparrows on the feeders and 2 Marsh harriers over. Nearby 3 Bewick Swans from Cockles Bridge.
On Walland 8 ads and 2 Juv Bewick Swans near Midley Cottages and the usual Tree Sparrows on the feeders.