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Paul Dudley | profile | all galleries >> 22 Overseas Trips >> South Georgia 2012 >> Cooper Bay: Mostly macaronis tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

First murky glimpses, and Drygalski Fjord | Cooper Bay: Mostly macaronis | Gold Harbour | Ocean Harbour | Prion Island | Grytviken | Salisbury Plain | Fortuna Bay | Stromness | Hercules Bay | Right Whale Bay | And finally, Stanley

Cooper Bay: Mostly macaronis

Macaroni penguins, we were told, live in places difficult for us to get to. Yes. The landing was easy enough, then there was a steep climb through and over tussac, with dire environmental consequences if we went over instead of through. Or it might have been the other way round, but avoidance of injury and fur seals became the main consideration in the climb. Then there was a sort of traverse to where we got a distant view of the colony. Our bird expert led the more intrepid further up the hill hoping for a better view, while the more cautious stayed for a while, some complaining, some doing their best with long lenses, before turning back. I was at the tail end of those who turned back, when a few macaroni penguins emerged from the tussac almost at my feet. So I think I got the best pictures. Those who followed our bird expert up the hill came back worn out and with no good pictures of macaronis.
Fur seal and a gentoo
Fur seal and a gentoo
Cooper Bay landing – 1
Cooper Bay landing – 1
Cooper Bay landing – 2
Cooper Bay landing – 2
Cooper Bay landing – 3
Cooper Bay landing – 3
Fur seals on the beach
Fur seals on the beach
More fur seals on the beach
More fur seals on the beach
Fur seals in the tussac
Fur seals in the tussac
Fur seal  on the penguin path
Fur seal on the "penguin path"
Seal following the kayakers
Seal following the kayakers
Fur seals everywhere
Fur seals everywhere
The colony we came to see
The colony we came to see
Macaroni penguin colony
Macaroni penguin colony
My macaronis – 1
My macaronis – 1
My macaronis – 2
My macaronis – 2
My macaronis – 3
My macaronis – 3
My macaronis – 4
My macaronis – 4
My own particular macaroni – 1
My own particular macaroni – 1
My own particular macaroni – 2
My own particular macaroni – 2
Not quite the right plumage
Not quite the right plumage
Snowy sheathbill
Snowy sheathbill
Macaroni penguins
Macaroni penguins
Penguin Colony
Penguin Colony
Snowy sheathbills
Snowy sheathbills