Nancy’s ‘Photo a Week Challenge’ is ‘Details’ and she invites us to share photos showing the grand scale and the detail of a scene.
On January 4th our cruise took us past Cooper Island, South Georgia. This is what we saw as we gazed ashore. South Georgia is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife locations, as despite being surrounded by chilly Antarctic waters, the sea around it doesn’t freeze, so there is no winter exodus as in Antarctica. The island is full of penguins, seabirds and seals. The sight of a veritable mass of thousands of penguins, all standing around as if waiting for the next ferry, was quite comical.
Can you see the cute baby penguins here? They have downy feathers in brown, which are not waterproof, so they have to stay out of the water and are totally dependent on their parents until they get their juvenile plumage.
The seals just lie in heaps, like humongous pebbles.
This gorgeous King Penguin, posing in front of two of his seal friends, seemed the ideal way to show you more detail. Selwyn on the right rose to the occasion, but Blondie in the middle of her siesta was totally oblivious to the fact that she was having her photo taken for WordPress.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some more of the wonders of nature that we were privileged to see on our cruise.
Happy weekend to you all.
anotherdayinparadise 
How fantastic to see these beautiful creatures up close in the wild like this…those furry penguin babies are adorable 🙂 xx
Thanks, Sherri. I loved every minute. 😘
🙂 ❤
More stunning images, Sylvia. Makes me even more frustrated our ship had to skip its stop in the Falklands!
I love it “convent” of penguins!! and I love penguins!
Thanks, Cybele. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
This must have been fascinating to see Sylvia. How did you get so close? Did you take a smaller boat from your ship?
Yes, we went out in a Zodiac inflatable, which was a lot of bumpy fun. 🙂
Must have been fun!
The best fun ever. 😃
How totally magnificent! Lucky you witnessing this sight.
Peta
Thanks so much, Peta. Yes, we were very lucky indeed. 😃
Those pictures are just perfect 🙂 I had no idea that baby penguins are not waterproof. I’ve been told that owls of any age aren’t waterproof, either. You made me laugh about the seals looking like humongous pebbles. They certainly blend in perfectly with the beach.
Thanks, Sarah. I didn’t know that about owls. I guess that fish are safe from them. 🙂
Aww, penguins..!
Aren’t they just so adorable? 🙂
Fabulous, how many baby penguins there are… they are so cute. Fantastic pictures!
Thanks, Ute. Loved seeing the babies especially.
How wonderful seeing these beautiful creatures in life!!!!! Excellent shots too! 🙂 xx
Thanks so much, Marina. It was such a privilege. 😘
They are so adorable – hidden away down there in Antarctica. My guy and I are in Kauai now, and the monk seals lumber up on the beach after days of ‘lovemaking,’ and just collapse on the sand, looking how your seals look in your photo. You get tired just watching them. 🙂 Looks like a fantastic cruise.
Thanks so much, Pamela. Kauai sounds wonderful. Say ‘hello’ to the seals for me. 🙂
I am incredibly jealous of your visit with the penguins Sylvia! Wonderful captures.
Thanks so much, Tina. 🙂 xx
Ha ha, you are right those penguins look comical. I think they looked like they came to welcome visitors.
Thanks, YC. I’m sure they’re always glad to get visitors. 😃
I’m sure your locals must have tweeted these critters to tell them you were on your way – how else did they know to poise so brilliantly for you?
Hahaha…….yes that must have happened. Explains everything. 😃
Don’t you just love the way seals sleep as if they are dead! I thought Selwyn looked very swish…could put her/him on the catwalk. I did not know that young penguins do not have waterproof feathers at first…very interesting.
Thanks, Gerrie. Yes, Selwyn could hold his own in any fashion parade and get away with wearing real fur too. 😅
I can’t quite imagine life, standing on that beach. Thank God I wasn’t born a penguin 🙂
Count your blessings every day, Jo. 😅
Amazing! love penguins!
Thanks, Holly. 😘
Torn between thinking how they look so comical and then … what a superb opportunity to see them in their environment like this Sylvia ! Lovely to bring them to us from your travels . And then there are the seals … lol … Great captures of them all x
Thanks so much, Poppy. It was so wonderful to see all these gorgeous creatures which are so far away from places one normally visits. I wonder what they think of us tourists dropping in on their peaceful existence and clicking our cameras at them. 🙂
What wonderful sights! That is so cool!
Thanks, Dawn. 🙂
What a privilege to see so many penguins in their natural habitat.
Thanks, Carol. It was an amazing sight. 🙂
Awwwwww!!! So cute! Thanks for commenting on the brown ones. I was wondering why some were brown. What a sight! 🙂
Thanks, Joanne. When I first saw the brown ones, I also wondered what they were. 🙂
Wonderful communities. I would so much like to see them in person too. These shots are pretty great, Sylvia.
Thanks, Paula. We couldn’t land here as the swell was too great, but we did get to walk among penguins and seals at other locations. 🙂
questa magnifica e pacifica popolazione potrebbe insegnarci ina serena convivenza, non credi? felice notte cara 🙂
Yes, I so agree with you, dear Annalisa. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. *hugs*
anche per te , cara
Oh I love those mass photos of the penguins! This must have been the most gorgeous trip. Looking forward to more!
Thanks so much, Ann Christine. Yes, it was an amazing trip. 🙂
Not at all envious…
Of course not. 🙂
What wonderful sights you saw and thanks for sharing – that first picture of the crowd of penguins is amazing!
Thanks, Patti. I have many more to share. 🙂
Green with envy!!! What a show for you and all those penguin chicks in their fluffy brown jackets. It must have been a trip of a lifetime.
Thank you. It was really awesome. 🙂
I squealed upon seeing this Sylvia. If anything your trip has ratcheted up my dream of visiting Antarctica.
Thanks, Sue. I’m sure I could hear your squeals from here. You would be so in your element among all this wonderful wildlife. I doubt you’d be able to cycle there, though. 😀
No cycling needed. I will be content to get all my adrenaline rushes from wildlife viewing. 🙂
That is one crowded beach for them to all share alright haha 🙂
Haha Yes, it was like Piccadilly Circus there. 🙂
Ha! Those pebbles make great camouflage for sleepy seals!
Yes they certainly do, Nancy. 🙂
So much pinguins in nature it’s a fantastic view in nature
Thanks, Marylou. 🙂
Aw…I love penguins! Great shots, Sylvia! ❤
Thanks so much, Jill. 🙂 xx
I love peguins and the way they walk!! Beautiful!
Thanks, Aletta. 🙂
I suppose the seals have to save energy for fishing in that icy water. Love your sense of humour Sylvia 🙂
Thanks for reading, Gilly. I do like to have a bit of fun with my critters. 🐧
A reminder that we are not the only creatures on earth that understands the concept of community. Fabulous photos.
Thanks, Rebecca. Yes, a great and timely reminder. 🙂
What an amazing adventure! (I love penguins.) I love the story all of these tell together. Thanks for joining the challenge!
Thanks, Nancy. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Aaaarrrrhhh…. What a wonderful gathering and superb greeting committee. ❤
Looks bigger than the crowds on January, 20th … 😉
Hahaha Yes, it was a very ‘bigly’ crowd, in facr rhe ‘bigliest’ I’ve ever seen. 😀
🙂 🙂
Sjoe dis baie
Dankie, Tina. 🙂
Love these, Sylvia. Penguins are so cute. My favorite thing about them is seeing how they pop out of the water, where they are so smooth and swift, and then they waddle away on the land. The contrast is too much!
janet
Thanks, Janet. I agree with you. They’re so awkward and slow on land, but in the water, they really excel. 🙂
Loved these captures, Sylvia! That’s a whole lotta penquins, wow! 🙂
Thanks, Donna. Yes, they were a sight to see, for sure. 🙂