Tuesday, January 19, 2016: Anchored off West Point Island, Falkland Islands, UK

Weather Forecast: mostly cloudy; temperature approximately 46°F; moderate breeze WSW 13 mph

On our last day we hiked to Devil’s Nose on West Point Island, part of the Falklands – a rocky promontory with a mixed colony of black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguins. Although continuously farmed since the 1870s, the island is still home to thousands among thousands of birds. Once I arrived, I climbed up the mountain side to watch the wildlife. I don’t think I have ever been so in awe of a landscape. It was spectacular with rugged cliffs where the sea and rocks seemed to collide in thunderous clouds of spray. Albatrosses with six-foot wing spans soaring everywhere. Quickly discovering it was fruitless to capture it in a camera lens, I put down my camera and just watched. Breathtaking.  Climbing down closer to the colony, I discovered the albatross fluffy grey chicks sitting in strange “mudpot” nests. Spotted one Striated Caracara sitting in the tussock grass and was warned this one would steal my camera bag if not careful. But how do you describe the strangest penguin we have seen yet – the rockhopper? I do declare it is the rock star of the penguin world with its spiky black hair, yellow eyebrows and fierce red eyes. I loved it.