birdlife - wildlife - botanicals - fungi - invertebrates - earthscapes - east africa - ecuador - falkland islands
penguins - seabirds - waterbirds - shorebirds - landbirds - mammals - and more
The beauty and grace of the Black-browed Albatross is breathtaking. The affection and care between birds, especially their chicks was delightful to watch. Gulls, shags (cormorants), petrels and skuas also patrolled the skies.
Before we realized that the wandering chick was a Skua, we told it to avoid becoming a Skua's lunch. It led us to its mother and another chick. She did not appear bothered by the distance the two would wander. On another occasion we were confronted by a very angry adult when we inadvertently came too close to its much larger chick. Bob's tripod protected his head.
Black-browed Albatross
Black-browed Albatross
Black-browed Albatross with chick
Black-browed Albatross greeting
Black-browed Albatross
Black-browed Albatross
Black-browed Albatross chick
Southern Giant Petrel
Southern Giant Petrel
Very shy and easily disturbed, Southern Giant Petrels
are viewed from a distance on Sea Lion Island. This
colony kept an eye on us but did not appear concerned
as we stayed low in the Tussac-grass, well outside
their personal space. The chicks stayed asleep.
Rock Shag/Cormorant
Rock Shag
Rock Shags live on steep cliffs over the water and
were not at numerous as the Blue-eyed Shag which
often had huge colonies on level ground.
Rock Shag juvenile
Are you my mother?
Falkland Skua Chick
Falkland Skua and chick
Angry Falkland Skua
Imperial/King Cormorants grooming
Imperial/King Cormorant (Blue-eyed Shag)
Imperial/King Cormorant
Dolphin Gull
Kelp Gull and chick
Imperial/King Cormorant colony
West Point Island - The white specks all over
the 600 foot cliff face are members of the
Albatross & Rockhopper colonies
