Booth Island

tony
July 5, 2015
Antarctica / birds / travel

Our landing at Booth Island was of special significance to me as it was our first opportunity to see Adelie Penguins. I have always had a soft spot for them since seeing a documentary film in primary school in the 1960s. At that stage there was no television in South Africa so no nature documentaries as we have today but we very occasionally saw a documentary film at school and I remember distinctly one on the Antarctic and Adelie Penguins which made a big impression on me. The rookery at Booth Island was again largely a Gentoo colony with some Chinstraps and a small group of Adelies on a distant rock promontory which didn’t offer any really good photo opportunities.

Adelie chicks with downy topknots — Adelie chicks, some still with downy topknots

Fortunately one wandered past me and stopped for a while which allowed a lovely close encounter and a portrait opportunity which was a special moment for me.

Gentoos. Adults defending space around the nest by calling and stretching out toward any approaching bird.

Gentoos march off to the sea - red Krill stained guano on their chests and staining their paths — Gentoos march off to the sea – red Krill stained guano on their chests and staining their paths

We had some nice clouded skies and diffused light which was a good opportinity to get some images for my Birds on White series and I was lucky to get a good fly past by a Southern Giant Petrel.

Gentoos on white. They get quite grubby from mud and guano on the rookery and then emerge clean after a fishing trip.

A Brown Skua also gave a good flypast but was against a background of sea and icebergs.

Booth Island is very dramatic with high rocky peaks with sheer cliffs and glaciers tumbling down to the sea which results in the numerous icebergs we had seen. A small flatter area enables access for the penguins and humans and we were fortunate to have the clouds partially clear to show the high peaks peeping down at us.