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CARCASS ISLAND , FALKLAND ISLANDS

Carcass SettlementIn the morning of February 10, we visited Carcass Island in the northwest region of West Falkland. The island is owned by Rob and Lorraine McGill and they had invited us into their home for a traditional farmer's tea. After we landed, we walked about a half mile across the island to Leopard Beach, a beautiful Caribbean-like white sand beach that's backed by impressive dunes.Magellanic PenguinThe area was teeming with wildlife. We were able to get close to the Magellanic Penguins who were nesting in burrows in the ground or in the tussock grass mounds along the beach. This is a rat-free island so they were able to breed in safety. The Magellanic Penguins are also called Jackass Penguins because of the braying sound they make.Magellanic Penguins

 

We were introduced to the Striated Caracara, a scavanger type hawk/buzzard that lives only in the Falklands and a small area of southern South America. It is also called a Johnny Rook and we found it nesting in the sand dunes with it's juvenile. Striated Caracara

 

 

Falkland Flightless SteamerducksThere were numerous species of other birds around the shoreline including a pair of Falkland Flightless Steamerducks, Yellow-billed Pintails, and Magellanic Oystercatchers. Magellanic Oystercatchers

 

 

 

 

Hiking to SettlementWe then hiked about 4 miles over to the settlement for tea. Along the way we spotted some Upland Geese and a family of Kelp Geese.Kelp Geese male and juveniles

 

 

 

 

 

Penguin and Upland GeeseBut the highlight of our visit was the Farmer's Tea. The owners put on an amazing (and endless) spread of baked goods. Of course we had to sample almost everything - and lunch back on the ship was very sparsly attended!Pastries

 

 

 

For more photos of Carcass Island, go to Carcass Island Photo Gallery. To read about the next location visited, go to West Point Island.

 


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