Photographing Penguins in Antarctica

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Tuesday, 13 January 2026 - The visit to Gypsy Cove near Port Stanley included a walk along coastal trails and beaches with limited penguin activity, though Magellanic penguins, burrows, and a chick were eventually observed, along with local bird species such as geese and vultures. A brief stop in Stanley.

Our luck of great weather ran out in Stanley. The winds were above 40 miles per hour, making for a rough sea. Even though there were no clouds, the wind was enough for the ship to anchor 2 miles out of the docks in Stanley. The zodiac ride into port was very rough with all of us getting soaked.

We were to stay in port until early afternoon, but the winds forced the Captain to announce an early departure, so we were rushed.

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The wildlife opportunity was Gypsy Cove, which was to have penguins.

No penguins but a beautiful beach. We saw plenty of penguin burrows but no chicks and no penguins.
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In the next cove there was a single Magellanic penguin walking toward the area containing the burrows. There was much excitement - after we had been on beaches with hundreds of thousands of penguins.
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The cove was beautiful and the water clear.
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This is a Quick Fire (QF) 4-inch Mk. IV naval gun on a pedestal mount at Ordnance Point. A gun from the late 1930s which was placed at Ordnance Point in 1942 to protect Port Stanley.
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Odd long lichen growing on the rocks in the area.
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We finished a loop around the park and decided to go around a second time.

Twice as many penguins!!! Now the cove sported two Magellanic penguins headed toward the ocean.
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The penguins slipped into the water. We watched them swim away - they were so fast.
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A Turkey Vulture suns itself on the rocks.
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The penguin-free beach. Still pretty.
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They are back!!! We go crazy taking their picture.
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Up on top of the cove cliff were Magellan Goose this is the male.
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And nearby was the female goose.
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While we were looking at the Magellan Goose someone spotted a Magellanic penguin chick in a burrow.
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The little chick tipped its head back and began crying. Probably trying to attract its parents for food.
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A little Kelp Goose family with the white male and dark female and four little chicks.

They are highly specialized feeders that primarily consume seaweed (kelp), foraging along the shoreline among rocks and washed-up kelp.
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We were bused back to Stanley and only had 30 minutes before having to grab a zodiac back to the ship. We had heard that the fish and chips were good, so I asked one of the guides where a close spot was for lunch. It happened that there was a small restaurant right next to the dock (The Waterfront Kitchen Cafe) and the fish and chips were excellent.

This building was next to the restaurant.
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Not very far was Christ Church Cathedral with Whalebone Arch.

Back to the boat and again everyone got drenched. The wind had not lessened and the ship started to the next stop on the Western Falklands Island.
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