tiabunna's photos with the keyword: Sandy Bay

My apologies for the anthropomorphism, these crazy Royal Penguins make it almost irresistible. :) Just bop along with the music.... I'll conclude my set on the penguins of Sandy Bay at Macquarie Island with this shot.

Not far from the partying Royals, the Kings were being far more dignified. The quieter conditions were relaxing for some elephant seals to have a nap, while a Giant Petrel also rests (see note). At Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island.

After pecking at my boot and leg, this Royal Penguin kindly posed for a standard portrait, pretty much looking as it did earlier. Then it moved a step or two closer and, for a few wildly exciting moments, I fully expected it was about to take a peck at my lens ..... thankfully it resisted the urge! :)

Antarctic tour operators warn tourists not to approach closer than five metres to wildlife, to avoid disturbance. But nobody has told the penguins about that rule and, besides, they cannot count! So, with the Royal Penguins at Macquarie Island, it is simply a matter of remaining stationary and they will come to investigate. :) By way of further detail, that is my leg and boot being tested. Other photos in notes above. Sadly, human interaction with the penguins was not always so enlightened (see third note - caution, may be distressing)

Antarctic tour operators warn tourists not to approach closer than five metres to wildlife, to avoid disturbance. But nobody has told the penguins about that rule and, besides, they cannot count! So, with the Royal Penguins at Macquarie Island, it is simply a matter of remaining stationary and they will come to investigate. :) Other photos in notes above. Sadly, human interaction with the penguins was not always so enlightened (see third note - caution, may be distressing)

Let's go through the penguin regal order: there are the well known Emperors and the Kings - but these are Royal Penguins, somewhat lesser known as they live only on Macquarie Island. They could be said to live up to their less exalted name, as the minor princes and princesses who can afford to be a little more relaxed and even eccentric: these are absolute characters. They don't actually nest on this beach, this is something like a cross between a social club and an arrivals/departure lounge. The accompanying photos show their breeding colony and access.

Dating from the early 1950s. As with the old hut at Lusitania Bay , the Sandy Bay hut was a recycled aircraft engine packing crate, installed when the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions were new and short of funds! But it did provide overnight (if basic) accommodation. It was good to see it surviving after some 50 years, but it looked very neglected (there is a glossy new hut not very far away). Parks Tasmania refused to allow the tourists up close to inspect it. Apart from the hut, look for the elephant seal pups among the tussocks to the left (note) and the yellowed dying tussocks - in 1968 this hut had been surrounded by tussock and other vegetation, but that was under savage attack by rabbits at this stage. See the note/photo at top left for more details on rabbits on Macquarie island.