Trip reports

"The Falklands and Antarctica"

Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Replacing the snow of Wiltshire with the snow of Antarctica, we visited the south with Ann and Phil Farrer. Starting in the Falklands we were shown a wealth of different species of birds, despite these islands being flat, boggy, windswept and treeless. Many of the species are found only in the area, like the Magellan snipe and the Falkland thrush. We also visited several penguin colonies of both gentoo and rockhopper.

Then we crossed via Cape Horn to the outer islands of Antarctica with several species of albatross following the boat. The scenery on the various islands was constantly changing and the sea full of icebergs. Again, despite the inhospitable conditions, there was an abundance of wildlife, seal colonies, more penguins, this time chinstrap, Adelie and macaroni, petrels, gulls and terns and humpback and killer whales. A totally different and yet very beautiful landscape. (Report by Eileen Miller)