Sea Lion Island, December 30, 2012

We “steamed” across to Sea Lion Island during the evening.  Sea Lion Island is approximately 80 miles east-southeast of the Falklands.  Geologically, it is composed of generally flat-lying shales and sandstones of the Lafonia Group, which conformably overlies the Fitzroy Tillite and is of similar age.

Again, the day dawned wet and chilly.  However, it was the first day of the expedition so we soldiered on!

After breakfast (a buffet of porridge [oatmeal], eggs, bacon, fruit, cereal, and yogurt) we had a Zodiac safety briefing in preparation for our beach landing.

A loaded Zodiac heading for shore

Just as at the Falklands the landscape is fairly flat and treeless with extensive peat deposits.  However, there were birds aplenty.  These included  Caracara (a predatory/opportunistic feeder), two species of penguins (Magellanic and Rock Hopper) that we won’t see elsewhere on our voyage,  Upland Geese (goose dung everywhere in the open areas), snipe, two species of cormorants (Rock and Blue-eyed [?]), and several types of small birds that the birders went gaga over. The Magellanic Penguins were all over, at the beach, nesting in the peat (in small burrows or dens). The Rock Hoppers though were another matter. The only colony of them on the island was at the other end away from our landing site. Another feature of that part of the island is a cross memorializing men killed during the Falklands War in 1982 between Great Britain and Argentina.

A caracara on the beach. It's nest was nearby.

Magellanic Penguins near our landing spot.

Rock Hopper Penguins. Worth the long walk.

Snipe hidden in the grass. They were difficult to see.

Cross memorializing English killed during Falklands War. Rock Hopper Penguins in distance.

Unbelievable as it may be Sea Lion Island has a tourist economy.  There is a single, “lodge”. Apparently people come there via small plane from Stanley to see the bird life and stay for several days.  However, after the 7 mile round trip to the southeast end of the island I was quite glad to visit the lodge and have a warming “spot of tea”.

We shipped off at dusk to head out to sea for two days on our way to South Georgia Island.