Photographing Penguins in Antarctica

Previous Day Prev P    
Next Day Next N    

Wednesday, 14 January 2026 - Landings at New Island included walks through North Harbour and Coffins Harbour, providing close views of Magellanic, Gentoo, and Rockhopper penguins, extensive Black-browed albatross colonies, Antarctic shags, and other local bird species.

antarctica2025/
The welcome committee on New Island at North Harbor. These little Magellanic penguins are coming down the very path we were to walk up. We waited for them to pass.
antarctica2025/
The Striated Caracara is known for having little fear of humans. It is primarily a scavenger that eats carrion, but will also attack small penguins.
antarctica2025/
Striated Caracara is found on the Falklands and the furthest part of Chile. It is a rare bird; however, we saw several on New Island.
antarctica2025/
Two Gentoo penguins in a field.
antarctica2025/
Two Gentoo penguins run in a field. They were headed to the beach which was a good distance from the small colony.
antarctica2025/
A Striated Caracara on a lichen covered rock looking mean.
antarctica2025/
Black-browed albatrosses are famous for their strong pair bonds and monogamy, though recent studies suggest warming waters might be affecting their "divorce" rates.
antarctica2025/
A Black-browed albatross chick sitting in a well-built nest made of mud and grass.
antarctica2025/
Some very dirty Rockhopper penguin chicks. The water is a long way down, not sure when they will make the journey to take a bath.
antarctica2025/
A Black-browed albatross and a chick in a tender moment.
antarctica2025/
The adorable Rockhopper penguin with yellow feathers and deep red eyes.
antarctica2025/
A Black-browed albatross mother and chick. The cliffs were packed with nesting Black-browed albatrosses.
antarctica2025/
Rockhopper penguin adults for some reason were not too kind to the little penguin chick. Later one of them did give the chick some food.
antarctica2025/
Head on with a Rockhopper penguin.
antarctica2025/
This Rockhopper penguin seems to be sitting in an albatrosses nest.
antarctica2025/
Black-browed albatross sitting on the nest and sitting on the little chick.
antarctica2025/
Rockhopper penguins enjoying the sunny weather.
antarctica2025/
Some Rockhoppers seem very plump.
antarctica2025/
This Rockhopper penguin seems to be contemplating his feet.
antarctica2025/
A Black-browed albatross chick calling out for its mother.
antarctica2025/
Black-browed albatross flying over the cliffs that all this activity was taking place.
antarctica2025/
Waves crashing into the cliffs. The little white dots on the right side of the picture are Rockhopper penguins.
antarctica2025/
Heading back to the ship we passed the Gentoo colony. A chick chases a parent wanting food. Fun watching them run around. The adult finally acquiesced and gave in to the chick.
A windy day but you can still hear the King penguins.
antarctica2025/
Gentoo penguin moving out smartly.

We were also moving quickly to the zodiacs.
antarctica2025/
In the afternoon we landed at another beach on New Island. This beach was New Island Settlement in Coffin's Harbour. Yes, a settlement!! One of the earliest of the Falkland Islands to be colonized, and American whalers may have arrived as early as the 1770s. Two place names on or near the island, Coffin's Harbour and Coffin's Island, commemorate the Coffin family of Nantucket.

As we hiked toward the cliffs where the birds (including penguins), we spotted a female Upland Goose.
antarctica2025/
Very surprised that I spotted a rabbit. They were introduced as none are native.
antarctica2025/
A pretty Long-tailed Meadowlark caught an insect. Several of us gathered around it hoping to catch it flying, but it tricked us flying into the bush.
antarctica2025/
As in the morning the cliffs were crowded with birds.

A Rockhopper penguin calls out
antarctica2025/
A Rockhopper penguin chick - so cute and fuzzy.
antarctica2025/
A disapproving glance at some youngsters - a Rockhopper adult seems to look down on a couple of chicks.
antarctica2025/
This little Black-browed albatross was flapping its wings - it did not go anywhere.
antarctica2025/
A little Rockhopper chick stretching their wings and letting out a cry.
antarctica2025/
Rockhopper penguin on a rock - his feet look so large.
antarctica2025/
Doing a bit of Rockhopper yoga.
antarctica2025/
A Rockhopper penguin wings stretched out and quacking.
antarctica2025/
Black-browed albatross couple.
antarctica2025/
And a Rockhopper couple discussing the weather.
antarctica2025/
A Rockhopper penguin perched on the edge of the cliff.
antarctica2025/
A Black-browed albatross in the background of a Rockhopper penguin.
antarctica2025/
Two Antarctic Shags and their chicks.
antarctica2025/
It was a warm day - I had shed several layers - so the little Rockhopper penguin is holding out his wings to cool off.
antarctica2025/
This little Rockhopper chick may be performing the same cooling behavior.
antarctica2025/
A very disapproving Rockhopper penguin.
antarctica2025/
Two love birds - interesting to see the Black-browed albatross couples.
antarctica2025/
An Antarctic Shag and its chick on a grass nest.
antarctica2025/
This Antarctic Shag is gathering additional grass for a nest.
antarctica2025/
An Antarctic Shag adding grass to the nest.
antarctica2025/
Making as much noise as a little Rockhopper can.
antarctica2025/
A Rockhopper Penguin actually hopping to a rock.
antarctica2025/
A couple of Rockhopper penguin friends.
antarctica2025/
On our way back to the ship I stopped at the "settlement" where there is small museum. From the patio outside the museum I took a picture of a beached ship and our ship in the background.

The island holds the shipwreck of a sealing vessel, the Protector III, which beached in 1969. Protector III was built in 1942 was a minesweeper for the British Navy. The vessel served the navy until the end of World War II, when it was sold to Italy in 1946. The Italians then sold it to sealers in 1955, who took the Protector III to the Falklands.
Previous Day Prev P    
Next Day Next N    

Top
Top    
  Cal and VA | Adventures | Penguins in Antarctica
        © Cal and Virginia Ann Holman
All Rights Reserved 2000-2026 Do not use without permission.
Privacy Policy - Terms
Modified last on 2026-02-07