17-Dec-2013
Traveling to South America
Our trip with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula began on December 17, 2013 with United Airlines #1469 departing from Washington Dulles Airport at 12:28 PM and arriving in Houston Intercontinental Airport at 2:40PM.
We then connected with United #819 departing from Houston Intercontinental Airport to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport airport at 9:00pm.
The map shows, highlighted in four red circles, the city of Ushuaia, Argentina from which we will embark on our Southern Ocean voyage, along with the four areas we will be visiting over the next four weeks:
     –  Falkland Islands
     -  South Georgia Island
     -  South Shetland Islands
     -  Antarctic Peninsula
We had planned on visiting the South Orkney Islands, but due to heavy sea ice in the area we did not visit them.
We will return back to Ushuaia through the Drake Passage.
Photography equipment used on this trip: (2) Nikon D3S Camera bodies, AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR lens, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens, AF-S NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D lens,Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x Teleconverter, multiple Lexar Professional 16Gb and 8GB Compact Flash Cards, Jobu Design Jr Gimbal Head, Really Right Stuff BH-30 Ball Head and Gitzo Tripod.
We protected our Camera gear during the Zodiac landings with two Cabellas Dry Bag Packs.
Map is courtesy of the Nations Online Project.
18-December-2013
Arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina
We landed at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport at 10:25AM.
After clearing Customs and Immigration we took a taxi to the Buenos Aires Plaza Hotel, where we will stay for just one night.
The map of South America shows the location of Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in Argentina, highlighted in red.
We will be flying to Ushuaia tomorrow.
Map is courtesy of Central Intelligence Agency
19-DEC-2013
Flying to Ushuaia, Argentina
On December 19th we flew from Buenos Aires Newberry Airport, scheduled to leave at 3:55PM, to Ushuaia, Argentina on Aerolineas Argentinas Flight #1888. Due to Airport Air Traffic Controllers going on strike, the airport was filled to capacity and our flight ended up leaving around 5:15PM.
We landed an hour late in Ushuaia around 8:30PM.
We were transferred to the Canal Beagle Hotel by our Tour operator.
See the map of Isla Grande Tierra Del Fuego Argentina. Highlighted on the Map in Red are the three areas that we would visit over the next three days while we stayed in Ushuaia:
     –  Estancia Las Hijas
     –  Estancia Harberton and a visit to Martillo Island for the Magellanic Penguins
     –  Tierra Del Fuego National Park
Map is Copyright Instituto Geografico Militar
20-DEC-2013
Visiting Estancia Las Hijas
On December 20 we joined a tour of the Farm at Estancia Las Hijas arranged by Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
This old wagon at Estancia Las Hijas was a reminder of the old days.
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20-DEC-2013
Horse
Estancia Las Hijas is in the process of converting from Sheep to a Cattle Estancia. This change is being made because feral dogs are attacking and killing their sheep.
Shown is one of their horses.
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20-DEC-2013
Sheep Dog
Estancia Las Hijas had a number of trained sheep dogs. This is one returning from a sheep roundup in one of their pastures.
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20-DEC-2013
Andes Mountains
On the way to Estancia Las Hijas we passed through the Andes Mountains.
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20-DEC-2013
Andes Mountains
Another view of the Andes Mountains.
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21-DEC-2013
Estancia Harberton and Martillo Island Penguin Colony
On December 21 we took a tour of Estancia Harberton and a visit to Martillo Island Penguin Colony arranged by Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
Shown are three Upland Goose Goslings.
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21-DEC-2013
Upland Goose Female with Four Goslings
Shown is an Upland Goose Female with four Goslings.
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21-DEC-2013
Upland Goose Male
Shown in the photograph is an Upland Goose Male.
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21-DEC-2013
Upland Goose Male, Female and several Goslings
This Upland Goose family was wandering around the Martillo Island Penguin Colony.
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