This morning we explored West Point Island, a place that has been taken care of by Thies Matzen and Kicki Ericson in recent years. We were able to hike towards the black-browed albatross colony which is shared with southern rockhopper penguins. There are thousands of pairs that nest on this island, making it an important site for biodiversity and conservation in the Falklands.
After lunch we repositioned the ship to Grave Cove located in West Falkland. Here we landed our Zodiacs on a beautiful white sand beach and walked across a narrow isthmus to see the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the Falklands. Watching hundreds of penguins come and go from the waves towards their rookery on the white sand was an incredible visual experience. We observed many other species that inhabit these islands, including a Southern sea lion stalking the shallows along the beach, unsuccessfully hunting the penguins.
The last day of our expedition was marked by striking landscapes and an abundance of wildlife that makes this part of the world preciously unique.
