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

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

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.

West Point Island 01/12/11 P.M.

During the 4 hour sail from Steeple Jason to West Point Island, Imperial Shags were numerous, a few White chinned Petrels joined us and huge flocks of Slender Billed Prions numbering in 1000s were encountered.

Imperial Shag

White Chinned Petrel

Slender Billed Prion

Huge flock of Slender Billed Prions

Slender Billed Prion

Cape Petrel

 Cape Petrels were still with us as were numerous Black Browed Albatrosses.

Black browed Albatross

Commerson's Dolphins

 As we neared the island we were joined by a pod of 20+ delightful Commerson's Dolphins.

 We were ferried ashore in the Zodiacs where a 4 kilometre walk was needed to reach another Black browed Albatross colony.
As David had twisted his ankle earlier he was going to be transported by Land Rover so I hung back and joined him.
As we neared the colony we saw 3 birds which looked like Pipits so when we arrived i doubled back to try and find them. In doing so i also found a Sedge Wren and a Ruddy Headed Goose. Fortunately i also located one of the Pipits. I then went looking for Rufous Chested Dotterel not realising that there none on this island thus losing my chance to take in another spectacular Black browed Albatross colony. 

Sedge Wren

Corendera Pipit

Ruddy Headed Goose

 Some compensation for the Black Brows were the Long Tailed Meadowlarks also seen were numerous Striated Caracara, a Black Chinned Siskins and Turkey vultures, Night herons, Falkland Island Steamer ducks, Gentoo Penguins, Kelp and Dolphin Gulls.

Long Tailed Meadowlark

Turkey Vulture

 On the way back to the ship the Commerson's Dolphins were bow riding the Zodiac.

Commerson's Dolphin

Stodmarsh

Change of scenery today with a visit to Stodmarsh. Walking through the Alder Wood Blue,Great and Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a small flock of Redpolls. At Marsh Hide the Glossy Ibis eventually flew in showing several times but always to far for the camera. 4+ Water Pipits were very mobile but one did come quite close allowing me to snap away. Reviewing the pictures confirmed my suspicions that there is a problem with the focusing as not a single shot was sharp. Also in front of Marsh Hide 2 Greater Whitefronted Geese with the Greylags, 4 Common Snipe, several Marsh Harriers and a Bittern flew through. As the day progressed the wind got up and the cloud came over  and the birds took cover.
Dropped into Denge Wood on way home but did not locate any Hawfinches.

Dull wet day at Dunge

At Hamstreet this morning 1 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Red Legged Partridges and a Common Buzzard.

1w Caspian gull

On the beach DW found the 1w Caspian Gull, 5 Eider sw, 27 Red Throated Divers sw, 15 Common Scoter sw, 8 Teal sw + 10 on the sea, 200+ Guillemots sw, a few Gannets off shore and 174 Great Crested Grebes on the sea.
At the ARC 1 Bewick Swan, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Great White Egret, 1 RH Smew, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Water Rail, 1 Bittern and the usual wild fowl. In the Willow Trail, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and a Firecrest.
On Walland the Bewick Swan herd has risen to 16 (14ads 2juv.)