The previous Blog Post covered the welcome from some of the Birds on the beach as we landed on Carcass Island. However, I've left the stars of the welcome committee which were the Penguins. Who doesn't like a Penguin.
Magellanic Penguin: I really should have taken a photo of a zodiac of punters walking the other way
Magellanic Penguin: The welcome committee weren't ready yet
Magellanic Penguin: That's better
Magellanic Penguin: They are a monotypic species which occurs on the Patagonian coasts & nearby Staten Island, the Falklands & the Chilean Juan Fernandez Islands
Magellanic Penguins nest in burrows which help to protect the chicks from opportunistic Skuas and Caracaras.
Magellanic Penguin: Just chilling
Magellanic Penguin: Youngster with a sleeping parent
Magellanic Penguin: You can tell the ones that have recently been in their burrow, by their dirty chests
The other Penguin species that were breeding on Carcass Island were the Gentoo Penguins. Unlike the burrow-nesting Magellanic Penguins, they nest in colonies. They breed on many islands where it wouldn't be possible to burrow into the ground and so they build a small nest of stones.
Gentoo Penguin: Adult. This is the nominate papua subspecies which breeds in the Beagle Channel, on Staten Island off the coast of Tierra del Fuego & the Falklands
Gentoo Penguin: A lot of the life of a Penguin during the breeding season seems to be just standing or lying around. But they will be waiting for their partner to return which could be many hours or even a day or two, depending on how close the fish are to the colony
Gentoo Penguin: They will also be keeping an eye on the youngsters, but these youngsters are probably big enough to look after themselves from the Skuas
Gentoo Penguin: Youngster
The Gentoo Penguin colony
The guides land first & mark out areas where it is safe to photograph the wildlife without pressuring them. One of the staff is there in the red jacket to ensure the toggers don't misbehave
The Penguins of Carcass Island: An illustrated guide by the farm buildings: Magellanic Penguin, Gentoo Penguin & King Penguin
The Penguins always had to keep an eye out for the local Brown Skuas.
Brown Skua: This is the nominate antarcticus subspecies which breeds on the Falklands & South East Argentina and winters off the South East of South America
Brown Skua: Incubating the next generation
Brown Skua: Head & shoulders
Brown Skua: They are as acrobatic as any of the Skuas
It's always a good landing when you get close to Penguins.
