Day 6: Falkland Islands!
S. Atlantic Ocean
Tuesday 24 December 2019
44 °F
Since I am dead tired, I willl to try be as succinct as possible despite today being UNCREDIBLE, thanks to our guide, Tony. I was hoping to see some penguins,..read on to see what happens!
So many life birds today including the Fakland-endemic FLUGHTLESS STEAMER-DUCK, which is surprisingly abundant — I got this just in the harbor at a first glance,
Our ship for the 16-day voyage waited patiently in the harbor for us during the day. 
BLACK-THROATED FINCH, lifer:
FALKLAND GRASS-WREN, lifer:
Then, we hit the jackpot when we spotted this huddle of MAGELLANIC PENGUINS on the beach. Life bird!
Sometimes being a penguin is just too fatiguing!
Especially when you’re looking over your nest situated one foot away from a walking path (!!!)
KELP GOOSE, male:
SILVER TEAL:
Female UPLAND GOOSE with her goslings:
FALKLAND PIPIT:
Next, we headed to a place where Tony knows of a colony of GENTOO PENGUINS, and sure enough, there they were! BUT-
-I spy with my little eyes, KING PENGUIN! He is the bird in the center for orange and yellow on the chest, and it was audu a treat seeing him since the only “reliable” location requires three hours of driving. TOO COOL!!!
Closer views of the GENTOOs — so cuuute! A penguin trifecta for today!
RUFOUS-CHESTED DOTTEREL, life bird
AUSTRAL THRUSH, lifer!
BLACK-FACED GOUND TIRANT, life bird 
Wild Lavender 
Sleepy Elephant Seal:
And a grumpy sea lion who snorted upon our distant approach,
LONG-TAILED MEADOWLARKS were one of the most common, but also the most striking birds seen today! Love these! Lifer!
Stumped by this one.
The amazing female KELP GOOSE!
Yet another lifer: TWO-BANDED PLOVER:
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, nice!
Beautiful view of the WHITE-TUFTED GREBES today,
Their relative the more-uncommon SILVERY GREBE!!! Sooo cool - life bird!
MAGELLANIC OYSTERCATCHER, lifer
VARIABLE HAWK, another lifer:
DOLPIHN GULL, life bird!
The scenery is breathing — almost surreal 
It was an amazing day of guiding! Later on as the ship left, I did some seawatching from the aft and found many SOOTY SHEARWATERS flying through — very cool!
This distant BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS was nice of course, too,
Subtle and unique sunset of the Southern Ocean.
AWESOME, AWESOME day! Bird-of-the-day to the lone King Penguin! Stay tuned — tomorrow is a day at sea which should bring some interesting birds because of the increasing proximity to Antarctica.
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1066 Species (24 life birds today!)
Posted by skwclar 21:38 Archived in Falkland Islands
