Falklands blog for Monday April 1 2013
“It’s going to be hot tomorrow” – well as it was April fool’s day, the next day, I was loathe to believe this promise. But the day started well, and just got warmer and warmer. The coat came off, then the jumper. I was still warm. 18 deg in April – nice and warm.
A good day to visit the Penguins. Gypsy Cove is clear of mines and you can clamber down onto the beach. Watch your step, for the bank is riddled with burrows from the Jackass penguins (their local name is from the braying noise they make). The beach is made of spun sugar and is dazzling in the hot sunshine – now a baking 20 deg C.
No penguins. A pair of Upland Geese – they go around in pairs all the time and sometimes in pairs of couples (the male is the white one (he whistles and the female has a rattling call). They seem to just fly in to where you are, say hello and then start grazing on the grass. Sociable birds and they don’t seem to mind people – some say they enjoy our company.
Then three penguins popped up from the waters edge and toddled up the beach. They checked me out and swiftly returned to their element. Disappointed, I struggled up the steep bank (how do these penguins manage this?) and then saw a pair of nestlings in their burrow.
This is where a long lens rewards you for lugging it around. Too close to the birds in their protective burrow and you will disturb them, a little closer yet, and you will be covered by regurgitated foul smelling stomach contents. An effective deterrent. Did I mention that they (like many birds) have fleas!
They will check you out with one eye and then look at you with the other in case things have changed. The Magellanic penguin never seems to tire of this scrutiny.
