These little guys... I really can't say enough of how funny they are and how curious. They are really unlike any other animal. They leave for huge amounts of time to feed and to trust their spouse with the care of not just the pre born eggs , but with the babies.
One Gentoo coming and one going. Yes the one coming in is in mid air.
How funny these guys are, They will struggle AND succeed. But the comedy of their struggle is not lost on them falling on their faces. Yes they do it A LOT. You kind of feel bad for them after you spend 10 minuets in tears laughing, only to watch the same guy fall flat on his face AGAIN. But their persistence always pays off. They get to where they need to go on land. In the water is a different story. Akin to watching a flying bird waddle awkwardly then fly with grace, these guys are masters in the water.
On their way back from feeding , These Chinstrap penguins come back in bunches. Safety in numbers going both ways.
Since the only time Antarctica is accessible is in the summer time in the southern hemisphere, if you go early in the season you will be lucky to see some adorable babies.
Newly hatched.
Predators are hungry too.
A little older and clumsy, but adorable.
At this smaller colony they were almost all calling out at the same time
Some close ups.
This is an interesting picture. A couple has decided to make their home beside a whale vertebrae. I could only imagine that it would offer some respite from the blistering winds. Even though it is summer time and it's 24 hour daylight , the weather can change in a second. I have gone from sunning on the deck of the ship ( sometimes at 3AM) to bundling up with all my winter expedition gear.
Whale bone home.
My last pic i find interesting and bizarre. Let me know what you think about this. What do you see in it ?
Antarctica is raw. It's purity is still mostly untouched. Penguins have only fear of whats in the water where it's predators reside. On the land they are curious clumsy and funny. Their curiosity in us was sporadic. Most could care less , but when one was interested , we were all engulfed in awe. Having one waddle up to me , then nip at my glove was a highlight on a journey that almost every turn was another highlight.
Sometimes a couple will lose its mate. A sad truth of nature. One will leave to feed and never come home to it's mate.
Hope you enjoyed.
