tiabunna's photos with the keyword: penguins

A pair of Yellow-eyed Penguins negotiating the giant kelp at the water's edge, in the Auckland Islands group. Best on black. Explored.

I'm reposting this image because the Yellow Eyed Penguin has just been elected as the "Bird of the Year 2019" for New Zealand - details in this link. About to give a performance, perhaps? A trio of well-dressed and relatively rare Yellow-eyed Penguins at Enderby Island, in the Auckland Islands group. Musical accompaniment here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERD4CbBDNI0 Explored.

This group of Adelie penguins watched as we cruised past in the zodiac. Try it on black.

Larger version in note. Dumont d'Urville is the main French base in Antarctica and the stepping-off point for expeditions to Concordia, the joint French-Italian base 1100 kilometers inland. This is immediately to the right of my previous panorama at the station: www.ipernity.com/doc/tiabunna/29909935 Those ropes in the foreground are blizzard lines. When it is pitch darkness, with the wind blowing at 150km/hr and visibility reduced to arm's length by drifting snow, it is imperative to closely follow (ie keep holding) these very specialised fences. Happy Fence Friday!

Near Dumont d'Urville base. Moulting Emperor penguin chicks ( Aptenodytes forsteri ) watch Adelie penguins, on fast ice at water's edge. As the Emperor penguin chicks finalise their moult to an adult coat (as some are doing here), they will begin to take to the water. I suggest viewing on black. Explored

The French antarctic base of Dumont d'Urville is situated on a series of rocky islands. There are thousands of nesting Adelie penguins in the surrounding area. This panorama was taken looking westward along the coast from near the station, which is to the right. The note has a larger version of the image. Use the 'satellite view' if looking at the location.

As seen in my earlier photo (link in note), Adelie penguins in their rocky roosts become rather grubby. Time for a communal bath!

Nesting Adelie penguins, with the plateau ice cliffs in the distance behind. We're accustomed to seeing these penguins wearing their 'dinner suits' - sadly, when at home, they aren't usually so immaculate. :) If viewing the location, I recommend changing to 'satellite' view.

Lusitania Bay, toward the southern end of the east coast is a "must see" destination for its huge King Penguin colony, estimated at 170,000 breeding pairs and covering the beach for several kilometres. Near the centre of the photo is the old hut installed by ANARE in the early 1950s. I once stayed there, a link to my 1968 photo is in a note at top left. The slopes are typical of the steep escarpment surrounding the island, inland it is essentially a rolling plateau. The island is about 34km long and 5km wide, running more or less north-south. Although tourists are limited to landing at either the Macquarie Island research station, or at Sandy Bay, there is no constraint on floating around other parts of the island close to shore: apart from rocks and safety constraints. I was concerned about water getting to my digital camera, so for this excursion I used a pocketable APS-C film camera. After this voyage, I never again used film: on my return I was so disappointed by the colour reproduction of the prints I asked for them to be printed again, but there was little improvement - so I went entirely digital. This is from a digital copy I made from the film negative, technically not great but far better than the original prints!

Although tourists are limited to landing at either the Macquarie Island research station, or at Sandy Bay, there is no constraint on floating around other parts of the island close to shore: apart from rocks and safety considerations. Lusitania Bay, toward the southern end of the east coast is a "must see" destination for its huge King Penguin colony, estimated at 170,000 breeding pairs, covering the beach in this photo and extending for several Km. Some details in notes. I was concerned about water getting to my digital camera, so for this excursion I used a pocketable APS-C film camera. After this voyage, I never again used film: on my return I was so disappointed by the colour reproduction of the prints I asked for them to be printed again, but there was little improvement - so I went entirely digital. This is from a digital copy I made from the film negative, technically not great but far better than the original prints!

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)

The breeding colony of the Royal Penguins, a hundred or so metres inland from Sandy Bay. Parks Tasmania have constructed a walkway for tourists (this is the only place on the island, apart from the station area, where tourists are permitted). Note especially the tremendous devastation of dead and dying vegetation as a result of the massive rabbit infestation at that time (Dec 2005).

This little creek, at Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island, is the main access route between the beach and the breeding colony a little inland. There is a busy and constant two way traffic, interrupted sometimes by arguments over who infringed the traffic rules!

Macquarie had its usual low cloud when we landed, at least it wasn't raining! The first sight, for most visitors, is of the elephant seals spread along the gravel beach, interspersed with penguins.