New Island, Falkland Islands

The nature reserve at New Island South has plenty of the native birds of the Falklands – and the word ’windy’ does not even begin to describe the gales blowing from the sea (below).

The rockhopper penguins (below left) seem positively to revel in the wind, as theirt colonies are mostly on the windier part of the island, although some (smarter?) have established themselves to a less windy area (below right).

Other frequently seen species include the kelp goose (below left, the males are white, the females gray-brown). A rock shag is below right.

The wreck of the good ship ’Protector’ lies in Coffin’s Harbour (below left) near the settlement (title picture and below right).

The Tussac grass grows everywhere (above) and among it the non-native red-and-yellow species ’Hurtigruten ordinaris’ performs its rituals (below).