We had enjoyed our first landing at Carcass Island on West Falkland & there was a second landing lined up for us that afternoon at the nearby West Point Island. The plan was to walk a mile over the island to the West side of the island where there was a Black-browed Albatross colony. It was nice to be able to stretch our legs again on the Falklands.
We were greeted on the beach by this delightful Kelp Goose family.
This UK flag was flying over the settlement. In 2013, the Falkland Islands Government asked its people whether they wished to remain a self-governing British Overseas Territory. In the referendum that followed, over 99% of Islanders voted to retain the Islands’ links to the UK. An observer mission from six countries, including five OAS states, oversaw that referendum. They gave their firm endorsement of the process, as free and fair. The people of the Falkland Islands have made their wishes clear. They do not want to be incorporated into Argentina. Likewise, they make it very clear that the UK has no mandate to negotiate with Argentina on the future of their home. The islanders position is very clear, so it is sad to see the Argentinian president who was elected at the end of 2023, making comments about Argentina's right to own the Falklands.
There were several photogenic Dark-faced Ground-tyrants on the walk to the Black-browed Albatross colony.
The landings were organised so either the even or odd cabins were allowed to board the zodiacs first. Steve Preddy & I were in the later zodiacs and we were further slowed down by the Dark-faced Ground-tyrants. What we hadn't appreciated was that when we arrived at the Black-browed Albatross colony, was that there were only a limited number of viewpoints overlooking the colony & the best ones were already occupied. Most people were considerate & taking photographs before moving on to let others have a chance. But the only good position in the first part of the colony was occupied by a Dutch togger, who in true togger fashion not only refused to allow others to have a chance of photographs, but was proud to inform everybody that he wasn't prepared to move. I was happy to give him a taste of his own medicine on the occasions he appeared on the bridge wing & thought he had the right to occupy the best places to look forward. Given that he wasn't going to look for Birds or Cetaceans, then that was another reason to not give up a good spot. Fortunately, He was one of the few anti-social passengers on the Plancius.
The First Black-browed Albatross was affectionately nicknamed Albert by all the Birders who headed to Hermaness, the most Northerly point accessible in the UK, to see it. Albert returned to the Gannet colony from 1972 to 1995. I think that any female Black-browed Albatrosses should now be called Amy: albeit their eyebrows are not overdone as on their late namesake.
There was a steady stream of Black-browed Albatrosses flying into the colony to keep me happy trying to get some flight photos.
The local Striated Caracaras and Turkey Vultures weren't far from the colony.
The Black-browed Albatrosses share the colony with the local punks, but I will leave them to the next Blog Post.