Just back from a long vacation down south, way south to Antarctica.

This little guy is from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, a rock hopper penguin. He has a punk hair do to match is personality.

Tags:   RockHopper Penguin Falkland/Malvinas AvianExcellence VosPlusBellesPhotos

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This Rock Hopper Penguin has found an especially nice spot to nest. Most make due with a rock ledge rather than the cushing grass nest.

This is taken on New Island on the west side of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands.

Tags:   Rock Hopper Penguin Falkland Malvinas

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Lots of birds followed our ship day and night in its travels to Antarctica.

This is a younger Southern Giant Petrel. He's pretty big, sporting a 7 foot wing span. You can tell he's young as they get lighter as they age.

Tags:   Giant Petrel Falkland Malvinas

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A Happy Rock Hopper greets his new day, flapping his flippers (wings?) for a nice stretch.

At sea we saw penguins swiming together in large numbers. No one was ever able to tell me definitivly if that was a flock, a pod, a raft or whatever!

Tags:   Rock Hopper Penguin Falkland Malvinas

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Nesting with the Rock Hoppers on New Island were several Imperial Shags (Cormorants as we call them up north).

I must really like blue eyes as I was transfixed at took lots of shots of these guys.

Tags:   Imperial Shag Cormorant Falkland Malvinas

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