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During our stay in northern Patagonia (in Argentina) we didn't only spent time with the Elephant Seals. One day we visited the Magellanic Penguin colony at Punta Tomba. This is arid desert, but just beside the water. These penguins live in burrows, and these images were made near the middle of the day.

I would have been here earlier in the day (before the heat built up) but our schedule meant we had to visit directly from the local airport. Even though we got up at 4am in Buenos Aires, by the time we checked out of the hotel, got to the airport, got charged excess baggage fees (my check-in duffle was 29 kg), waited for the plane, flew to Trelew, got our car, found a supermarket to get some lunch, and drove 130km (on the right side of the road) it was late morning...
But it was still worth going!

There are only about 500,000 penguins living in this colony...


An adult having a rest on the way back to the burrow
EOS 5DmkII, 100-400mm IS @ 400mm


Dad! Dad! Got any more food?
EOS 5DmkII, 100-400mm IS @ 400mm


Damn. When's Mum coming?
EOS 5DmkII, 100-400mm IS @ 285mm


Surveying the neighbourhood
PowerShot G9

got charged excess baggage fees (my check-in duffle was 29 kg)

lol, thats over the typical domestic check in baggage limit!

Penguins that live in burrows and a arid desert, now I have seen it all. The second shot I really like, makes for a really good 'add a caption' picture!

I like the last one. My first reaction was to ask who has been photoshopping rabbit pictures...

Ant.

Dave

An interesting group of snow free shots. The first image really appeals - I suspect because it's both a different looking bird and habitat.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not uncommon for penguins to live in burrows isn't it. I seem to recall from when I visited way back in the 70's that those at Philip Island burrow.

stubbsy wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not uncommon for penguins to live in burrows isn't it. I seem to recall from when I visited way back in the 70's that those at Philip Island burrow.

You're right. It helps protect from predators (and in this case from the sun) too.

In the sub-Antarctic islands and in Antarctica they don't burrow, because:

• there's nowhere to burrow, and
• they're not subject to land-based predators. Seals in the water, skuas from above, but nothing on the ground.

I like that last one. They look a bit like meerkats.