Day 3, New Island and West Point Island
Trip Start
Oct 09, 2008
1
5
17
Trip End
Nov 28, 2008
Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Penguins, penguins, penguins. Little Dudes! The island is owned by two families and run as nature reserves. Standing metres away, watched gorgeous little Rockhopper pengs who bounce up and down sea cliffs to nest their blue eggs, wearing yellow feathers at the side of their heads. They are the smallest of the Crested Pengs. Amongst the Rockies were the Imperial/Blue Eyed Colorants nesting. Dressed in black and white finery, it was so obvious that they wanted to be pengs. Nesting alongside were Black Browed Albatross, so serene looking, gazing at us from the knee-high mud-based pedestal nests they return to and build up, year upon year. On the hunt are the evil Skuas, preying on eggs and newborns (boo, hiss!).
We didn't think to bring UK or US currency with us as everything onboard goes onto an account to settle in Visa at the end. So begins the Great Shopping Calamity that continues to plague us. Argentinian pesos, needless to say, are redundant here-even the flights only leave out of Chile and until recently Argies weren't even allowed on the islands. So couldn't buy beautiful photograph of pengs I wanted-bugger!
Afternoon landing at West Point Island
Home of the Napier family and a nice walk to more colonies of the stars of the morning. Tourists are 'invited' to the Napier's homestead for tea and cakes, but not made to feel very welcome. Freaks.
