Rockhoppers and Tussock
By Blog.Admin
3 Dec 2009I saw for the first time in my life today a Rockhopper Penguin - the mad scientist of the penguin world. I was surprised at their size - tiny in comparison to Gentoos and Adelies. I did not see them rock hopping, rather they were standing upright or lying prone among Black-browed albatross nest.One observant traveler - not me - spied one hiding under a clump of tussock. I am mad about tussock - they are the Ents of the Falklands. They can be perfectly groomed or sculpted by the wind into the faces of Norse gods. Fascinating.
Our morning landing was on a private island. The camp or farm made us welcome with a wonderful traditional tea. The ginger cake was the best! I hiked from the landing site to the albatross colony - about 1 mile up and down hill, and across boggy paddocks. In no time the trekkers left me in their dust to stroll solo across a breath taking landscape. I sat down en route and took in the view and watched the wild things - geese - kelp and uplands - caracaras - siskins and thrushes.
The Falklands are a birder's paradise. Admittedly I cheated, hitching a ride back to the homestead in a landrover. That was great fun and not unsimilar to the Khlebnikov's roll crossing the Drake. The adventure doesn't end there. We are visiting another island after lunch. More birds, more vistas and more indelible memories.
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