Day 20 - Carcass and Saunders Islands West Falkland

We had an early start with zodiacs leaving at 8.30 for Carcass Island.  There was a high swell and it was very windy so we got wet both ways.

Carcass Island is very beautiful and deserves a better name but apparently it is named after a ship that sailed here many years ago.  The island is farmed by a family who allow access to visiting expedition ships and who also offer B&B accommodation.

The excursion was a 9 km hike around the island to a beach with Magellanic Penguins (which we had seen previously swimming in the Beagle Channel) and Gentoo Penguins.  The views were spectacular and the end beach could easily have been in the Caribbean as the sand was very fine and white.  The hike was not easy and not helped by a very tight time schedule.

Carcass Island from Fram

View from Carcass Island


Tussock grass. Breeding ground for Magellanic Penguins 

Cows with Upland Goose on the farm


Small islets off the coast of Carcass Island

Combination of Gentoo and 
Magellanic Penguins 


Turkey Vulture with Striated Caracara

Striated Caracara

Falkland Thrush

Tussock Bird



Magellanic Penguin at burrow 
(these penguins nest in burrows rather than on rocks)

Magellanic Penguin

Upland Geese

Striated Caracara



Beach on Carcass Island



In the afternoon we went to nearby Saunders Island.  This was at a narrow point on the island where there were 4 species of penguins (King, Magellanic, Gentoo and Rockhopper) and a colony of nesting Black Browed Albatross.  

On arrival we were told that the Rockhoppers were not there but the farmer who owns land on the island was at the landing site and said he would find them for us, which he did.

The walk was quite long and difficult, especially up to the Albatross nests.  We did over 4 km but had over 2 hours.  In fact we (and most others) took a lot longer and were late getting back to the landing site due to the antics of the Rockhoppers


Dolphin Gull

Gentoo Penguins 

Gentoos

Gentoo chick feeding

Gentoos

Skua attacking Gentoo colony


Magellanic Penguin at burrow

Penguins on hillside alongside sheep

Albatross breeding colony

Black Browed Albatross colony with chicks

Black Browed Albatross colony with chicks



White sandy beach used by 
thousands of Penguins 

Magellanic Family

Magellanic Family on beach fascinated by the tourists




Upland Geese

Rockhopper Penguins 

Rockhopper Penguins 

Rockhopper Penguin

Rockhoppers arriving on beach

Rockhoppers on cliff top



Rockhopper 

Rockhopper 




Rockhopper 

Striated Caracara feeding 
on dead penguin

We had walked over 13 km today so used the jacuzzi and sauna when we got back to the ship.  There was a talk on the history of Hurtigruten but we were too tired and also we had heard it before when in Norway.

Comments

  1. Viki24 February 2022 at 11:42

    OMG!! The Rockhoppers arriving on the beach 😍😍😍😍

    ReplyDelete

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