Sub-Antarctic Islands off New Zealalnd & Australia 1999 No.5
Arriving at Macquarie Island, which is under Australian admistration. It is the southernmost of all the Subantarctic Islands and is the closest to the Antarctic convergence. We spent two days landing on Macquarie Island.
Arriving at Macquarie Island. The low lying strip of land
is known as the Isthmus and Base Camp is located here.
Akademik Shokalskiy anchored off Sandy Bay
Zodiacs transferring us to Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island.
General view after landing from the zodiacs - almost mind blowing
View show the Isthmus with the Base Camp.
Several views of a walk around Sandy Bay
Walking higher we came across the mega herb patch with
a small Royal Penguin colony.
Stilbocarpa polaris (cabbage type) on Macquarie Island.
Royal Penguins Eudyptes schlegeli Royal Penguins only breed on Macquarie Island in some very large rookeries.
Some large impressive rookeries of Royal Penguins were seen on Macquarie Island.
On our first visit, we estimated 15,000+ birds were seen
in the Sandy Bay area.
They are very closely related to the Maraconi Penguin
which has an all black face and throat.
The Royal Penguin has generally 2 colour phases, the common one with a white face and the second like this bird with a darker smoky like face.
The white-faced variety of the Royal Penguin.
Shows both white faced and smoky faced birds.
I discovered this Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus on the beach with the Royals. Locally common on antarctic and subantarctic islands, and closely related to the Royal Penguin. Its occasionally seen with the Royals on Macquarie Island. A very lucky find, but by the time I returned with other observers, we were unable to relocate it.
Macaroni Penguin with Royal Penguins. The jet black face and throat are very distinctive from the Royal Penguin.
Elephant Seals with Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island.
We watched Elephant Seals loafing on the beaches
on most of the Sub-Antarctic Islands.
Elephant Seals loafing on the beach at Sandy Bay
on Macquarie Island close to a King Penguin colony.
Baby Elephant Seal
Elephant Seals sparring with one another
This Elephant Seal took a fancy to Doreen, and rubbed
itself up against Doreen's leg.
King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus were only seen on this trip on and around Macquarie Island. We first recorded approx. 10,000 in Sandy Bay, and the following day we had a zodiac cruise along Lusitiania Bay looking at various colonies and probably saw in the region of 1 million birds, a truly memorable day.
Mixed colony of King and Royal Penguins on Macquaire Island
Royal having a disagreement with a visting King Penguin on the beach.
KingPenguins with Elephant Seals on Macquarie Island.
King Penguins around one of the old Penguin boilers in Lusitiania Bay on Macquarie Island. The Penguins would be walked into the boilers and then the boilers would be fired up to collect the Penguin oil.
Adult Kelp Gulls. They were seen in small numbers on most of the
Sub-Antarctic Islands.
Sub-Adult Kelp Gulls on Macquarie Island.
Eastern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes filholi We went to see a small colony of the Eastern Rockhopper Penguin on Macquerie Island. Viewing was difficult as you had to look down on these penguins from a ackward position. The Rockhopper Penguin, since we returned from the Subantarctic Islands, have now been split into three speceies, Northern, Southern and Eastern Rockhoppers.
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli feeding on a dead whale washed up on Macquaire Island. During our trip we recorded them on fourteen dates with 100 on the 11th and 160 on the 12th. Several white colour phase birds were seen.
Chiefly identified from Southern Giant Petrel is the dark tip to the bill on Northern Giant Petrel.
A Brown Skua had now joined the Northern Gliant Petrels.
Northern Giant Petrel in flight
Gentoo Penguins Pygoscvelis papua were only seen on or around Macquarie Island with 500 on the 12th. They range on the subantarctic islands from South Georgia to Macquarie Island also Scotia Arc islands, Antartctic Peninsul and the Falklands.
Juvenile Gentoo Penguins on Macquarie Island
Gentoo Penguins with young Southern Elephant Seal on Macquarie Island
Following Day we went on a zodiac cruise along Lusitania Bay
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross Phoebetrid palpebrata On a zodiac cruise at Macquarie Island, where 500 pairs are estimated to breed, we came across this pair sat on the sea in misty with drizzle conditions.The zodiac approached them so close, I could have touched them. The pair took no notice of us. We must have spent 30 minutes enjoying their company and allowing many photographs to be taken. Without doubt it has to be the highlight of the trip.
This Light-mantled Sooty Albatross was taken in bright evening sunlight with the light reflecting onto the bird. The eye appeared quite blue in the field, but not caught by the camera'
A beautiful light phase type Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, lacking
the white eyelids, the only one of its type seen on the trip.
Light Mantled Sooty Albatross on its nest on the Auckland Islands. 5,000 pairs have been estimated breeding on these Islands. When passing a small colony, you could hear them making a loud haunting wild call - Superb.
One of the beautiful sights, was watching the synchronize display flight of a pair of Light Mantled Sooty Albatrosses over their breeding grounds.
Light Mantled Sooty Albatrosses were seen by ourselves on nine dates
during the trip. Superb!!
Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma with Royal Albatrosses. Pairs only breed every two years, on the subantartic islands from South Chile and South Georgia to New Zealand. We only recorded Grey-headed Albatrosses on 4 dates, with no more than 5 on a day. It does breed on Macquarie Island and Campbell Islands on the Sub-Antarctic Islands but is far commoner around Antarctica.
A dark headed looking Grey Headed Albatross.
Note the broad black leading edge to the underwing.
Adult Grey-headed Albatross
