24-DEC-2013
Black-browed Albatross with a Chick
Shown is a photograph of a Black-browed Albatross with a Chick.
122413-#0728
24-DEC-2013
Black-browed Albatross Soaring
All Albatross love to soar.
A Black-browed Albatross soaring near the colony.
122413-#1482
24-DEC-2013
Black-browed Albatross Soaring
Another Black-browed Albatross soaring near the colony.
122413-#1472
24-DEC-2013
Black-browed Albatross Soaring
Another Black-browed Albatross soaring near the colony.
122413-#1437
24-DEC-2013
Black-browed Albatross Colony
This photograph shows a very small portion of the dense Black-browed Albatross colony with the various nests.
122413-#1453
24-DEC-2013
Kelp Goose Male
The Male Kelp Goose feeding on kelp in the surf is mostly white.
122413-#1321
24-DEC-2013
Kelp Goose Female
The Kelp Goose Female is much more colorful that the male. Likewise it was feeding on kelp in the surf.
122413-#1349
25-DEC-2013
Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands and a Gentoo Penguin Colony
We made a Zodiac landing on Christmas day on Steeple Jason Island.
It would be our second location for landing in the Falkland Islands.
Shown in the photograph is a Gentoo Penguin colony - one of several Gentoo Penguin colonies we would visit over the course of our entire trip.
122513-#0198
25-DEC-2013
Gentoo Penguin with Two Chicks
Shown in the photograph is a Gentoo Penguin with two Chicks.
Gentoo Penguins usually lay two eggs.
Predation of eggs and chicks are fairly high due to both Caracara and Skua.
Laying two eggs gives them a higher chance of raising at least one Chick to Juvenile age.
Gentoo Penguins are 30 - 35 inches in height and between 10 and 14 pounds in weight.
122513-#1235
25-DEC-2013
Gentoo Penguin
A Gentoo Penguin is shown in this photograph returning from the sea back to the colony.
Penguins returning from the sea are usually nice and clean from all the dirt and guano from the colony, although some times we see them come in with sea weed and algae stains.
They also tend to be plump since they are full of food to feed the chick when they make contact with their mate and young.
122513-#0473
25-DEC-2013
Gentoo Penguin with an Egg
Gentoo Penguins usually lay two eggs, although only one is seen in this nest.
122513-#1046
25-DEC-2013
Two Gentoo Penguin Eggs
The Gentoo Penguin left the nest for just a few seconds while it chased off another Penguin.
Leaving the nest even for a moment can lead to Caracaras and Skuas to attempt to steal the egg.
Notice the nest is mostly a loose grouping of rocks with some plant material mixed in.
122513-#1020
