I was lucky enough to spend two weeks on the Falkland Islands in late November – early December 2022. I visited four islands, plus the capital city (Port Stanley) and Volunteer Point where there is a colony of King Penguins.
This photo shows a Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua, apparently looking out contemplatively over the South Atlantic Ocean while standing on a wind-blasted white, sandy beach. In late Spring, the light is very intense and the sky is often clear blue, leading to beautiful colours in the ocean.
The Gentoo Penguins often nest in colonies far away from the sea, and the partners take turns in walking to the sea to swim, clean themselves and catch fish. They often seemed to be reluctant to step into the water (a bit like me stepping gingerly into outdoor swimming pools), but are agile swimmers, as their wings have adapted to function as flippers in the water rather than flying.
Despite their very short legs, they can move surprisingly quickly over land, though they aren’t as graceful on land as they are in the water, where they can swim in fast bursts of up to 36kph (c22mph).
This photo is copyright © Liz Leyden, all rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
It is available to license as a stock photo from my portfolio at iStockphoto.
A digitally altered version of the image is available as various types of wall art, and as home and personal accessories, from my gallery at Pixels.com.
