Wild January

Now despite the title of this blog, we are not talking about a wild night out but instead the magnificent wildlife around the islands during January! This is a new series we will be starting, and we hope it helps inform you of what there is to see during the different months…

With the summer months being December to February, we are soaking up all the wildlife around us. With sunrise around 04:50 and the mean maximum summer temperature around 15˚c (59˚F), it is the perfect time to get out and explore what the islands have to offer.

Let us begin with our favourite…. PENGUINS

• Gentoo penguins reside throughout the year, with colonies at numerous other destinations around the archipelago.

• Magellanic penguins are also widely distributed but only a summer resident of the Falklands. This burrowing species has a call akin to the braying of a donkey, giving them the local name of ‘Jackass’ penguins.

• Travel further afield to Volunteer Point to view our largest penguin in the largest colony at the most northern edge of its global range. Fluffy young penguins are enchanting to observe as they strut around, whilst the magnificent adults preen and take stock of the surroundings. Around 500 – 700 chicks are produced each year.

• Rockhopper penguins are renowned for their charismatic, eponymous method of getting around and always entertaining, whether hopping up a seemingly unscalable cliff face, showering or simply passing the time at their nesting grounds. A significant proportion of the world’s population chooses to breed in the Falklands in the summer months.

Some key locations to see these penguins:

• Gypsy Cove – Magellanic
• Yorke Bay – Gentoo
• The Murrel – All Penguins
• Volunteer Point – King Penguin
• Outer Islands – Gentoo, Magellanic, Rockhoppers

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Black-browed Albatross

Iconic black-browed albatrosses breed around the archipelago – over 70% of the world’s population can be found here - but are most numerous on the Jason Island group, which is a stopping point for some expedition vessels. Visiting in the summer months, these spectacular birds have an amazing wingspan of 210 – 250 cm (7 – 8 ft) and produce fluffy, grey young, frequently nesting in association with Rockhopper penguins.

Locations to find them:

• Saunders Island
• New Island
• West Point
• Dunbar, West Falklands

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Striated Caracara

The Striated Caracara known locally as the Johnny Rock is a beautiful dark brown bird with streaks of white below the crown. It is found on many of the outer Islands and although it is low on numbers it is one of the most inquisitive birds around.

Locations to find them:

• Sealion Island
• Carcass Island
• Bleaker Island
• New Island
• Saunders Island
• Pebble Island

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Cobb's Wren

The Cobb's Wren is one of three bird species endemic to the Falkland Islands. It is a vulnerable species restricted to those islands that are free of predators such as mice and rats. It is a curious and friendly bird that will hop around your feet when out on walks!

Locations to find them:

• Carcass Island
• Sealion Island
• Bleaker Island

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Falklands Flightless Steamer duck

The Falkland Steamer Duck, known locally as the Logger Duck, is a flightless bird found only in the Falkland Islands. These birds can be found with no great effort in the Islands along all low-lying coasts where there is shelter from the full force of the South Atlantic Ocean.

• Location – Widespread around the Falklands.

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Magellanic Oystercatcher

This beautiful bird is primarily black but has a white belly, along with its distinctive orange eye and reddish bill. It is a widespread bird found around the low-lying coasts and their adjacent slopes.

Blackish Oystercatcher

The Blackish Oystercatcher is the bulkier version of the Magellanic Oystercatcher. The difference is it is all black with a scarlet bill, bright red eye ring and pink legs. It is a widespread resident of the Falklands and it is mainly found around the rocky coasts.

• Location – Widespread around the Falklands.

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