Penguins - Gypsy Cove - East Falkland
While visiting Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, we took the opportunity to take a shuttle bus to see a Magellanic Penguin colony at Gypsy Cove, in Yorke Bay. The penguin colony was only a 15 minute ride around the bay and over the hill, to the open ocean beaches.
The landscape in this area consists of low hills, limestone outcrops, short Tussac grasses, ferns, and lichens, and what appeared to be white heather. Although we experienced a comfortably warm day with gentle breezes, this coastline is extremely windswept and is often battered by raging gales.
We were able to wander along the several kilometres of trail, and although we could only approach the penguins to within about 30 meters, many were seen. There were a couple of groups of these very cute penguins huddled together on the beach, and we spied several immature birds which were hanging around their burrows, waiting for mum, or dad, to bring them a fish supper.
The penguins are ashore for around three weeks in February while they go through their annual moult. They cannot go to sea until their new feathers are fully grown in, and huddle together in groups, while located several meters away from the water, to avoid predators such as seals.
The penguin pairs build their nests, away from the beach, in burrows on the adjacent hillsides. There are usually two eggs, and both mum and dad go out into the ocean to catch fish for the chicks.
During the daytime, while the parents are out fishing, both chicks, especially when they are very small, must hide in the burrow to avoid being eaten by Skuas, or other predatory birds.
The headland which we walked around had a number of signs which warned us of the danger of unexploded mines, from the war of 1982 with Argentina, and cautioned us not to step off the marked trails. De-mining is still being carried out by the British Government.
As you might imagine, we stepped very cautiously while being very cognizant of where our feet were placed, relative to the edge of the path, and thankfully we made it back to the bus without incident.
The landscape in this area consists of low hills, limestone outcrops, short Tussac grasses, ferns, and lichens, and what appeared to be white heather. Although we experienced a comfortably warm day with gentle breezes, this coastline is extremely windswept and is often battered by raging gales.
We were able to wander along the several kilometres of trail, and although we could only approach the penguins to within about 30 meters, many were seen. There were a couple of groups of these very cute penguins huddled together on the beach, and we spied several immature birds which were hanging around their burrows, waiting for mum, or dad, to bring them a fish supper.
The penguins are ashore for around three weeks in February while they go through their annual moult. They cannot go to sea until their new feathers are fully grown in, and huddle together in groups, while located several meters away from the water, to avoid predators such as seals.
The penguin pairs build their nests, away from the beach, in burrows on the adjacent hillsides. There are usually two eggs, and both mum and dad go out into the ocean to catch fish for the chicks.
During the daytime, while the parents are out fishing, both chicks, especially when they are very small, must hide in the burrow to avoid being eaten by Skuas, or other predatory birds.
The headland which we walked around had a number of signs which warned us of the danger of unexploded mines, from the war of 1982 with Argentina, and cautioned us not to step off the marked trails. De-mining is still being carried out by the British Government.
As you might imagine, we stepped very cautiously while being very cognizant of where our feet were placed, relative to the edge of the path, and thankfully we made it back to the bus without incident.
Penguin chick and probably late to hatch -
still has baby down with permanent feathers growing in.
Pair of penguin chicks almost ready to go to sea
Huddle of moulting adult Magellanic Penguins
on the shore of Gypsy Cove
Penguin chicks at a burrow - foreground.
Huddle of adult penguins on the shore
A huddle of adult Megellanic Penguins
Limestone outcrop covered in lichen
One of the many signs warning us not to stray off the pathway.
Artillery remnant from WW2.
Comments
Post a Comment