We rolled out of bed a bit before 6am today and set off to Isla Magdalena. When we got there, there were Magellanic penguins. Hundreds of thousands of them (estimates range from 150,000 - 300,000). Penguins sleeping, penguins grooming, penguins kicking up dust, penguins maintaining nests, penguins waddling around, penguins telling off their kids, penguins calling, penguins preening and penguins engaged in various forms of pair bonding. One had built his home on the path, and pecked tourists who interfered with his construction. Laura, as you can imagine, was in seventh heaven. Penguins swimming are lighting fast and nothing at all like the waddling penguins on land. There were a lot of Kelp gulls too and a few dead chicks. Other species included Chilean skuas and Rock Cormorants.
Next stop was Isla Marta where we could not land but were able to see sea lions and more bird species. The smell and noise! A fantastic wildlife experience. We went with Solo Expediciones and they were grand. They have a real tank of a boat and it ploughed through the waves quickly, water lashing against the windows.
Next stop Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino, still in Chile. 30 hour ferry ride. Glad to be leaving Punta Arenas town!
