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| Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys © Michael Reeves http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/wildfalklands/ |
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If you want to get within touching distance to an abundance of wildlife and in particular birds, then jump in a car to RAF Brize Norton and get on the first possible plane departing for the Falkland Islands. Whilst it’s not teeming with vast quantities of different bird species, it houses some beauts and gives you unparalleled access to some rarities including the Blackish Cinclodes and stunning yet cheeky, Striated Caracara. Flying into Mount Pleasant, you’ll transfer to Stanley as a base, and a must take trip (and what a trip it is!) is to Volunteer Beach which has one of the northernmost colonies of King Penguins in the world. A variety of waders, geese, gulls and two other types of penguins are found there too. Away from the main islands you have a variety of smaller islands to travel to. The ‘musts’ amongst them have to be Sea Lion Island to the south and Saunders Island to the north-west which houses the largest colony in the world of Black-browed Albatross, and is the perfect place to sit down and watch the Rockhoppers’ in all their elegance in the water and observing what characters they become when they hop out. The whole experience is made easy and enjoyable with the help of the islanders themselves, traveling around the islands with FIGAS is hugely entertaining. Most people know their fair share about birds too and who can blame them with this ‘wildlife paradise’ on their own doorstep. |
John Robinson
(Chile)
gayleandjohn@lineone.net
Number of bird species: 195
Number of endemics: 1
Falkland Steamerduck Tachyeres brachypterus
Falkland Steamerduck Tachyeres brachypterus
Bird Song in the Antarctic, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands
Mandarin Productions 2006ISBN: 161465
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds & Mammals of the Antarctic, Subantarctic & Falkland Islands
by Frank Todd Ibis 2004ISBN: 0934797226
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Important Bird Areas of the Falkland Islands
Falklands Conservation 160 pages, colour photos, distribution maps, tables. Falklands Conservation 2006ISBN: 0953837165
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Where to Watch Birds in South America
Nigel Wheatley Paperback - 336 pages (27 October, 1994) Christopher HelmISBN: 0713639091
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Atlas of Breeding Birds
The Atlas is based on records from about 160 observers who sent reports equivalent to more than 550 Breeding Birds Survey forms over a period of ten breeding seasons between 1983/84 and 1992/93. About 80 observers (51%) were Falkland Islanders or contract workers, 47 (30%) were military personnel and 29 (19%) were visitors to the Falklands. The results are substantial, considering that this country of 12,200 square kilometres (4,700 square miles); with land in 255 10km grid squares, has a small permanent human population of only about 2,200.
Environmental Research Unit
WebsiteThe Falkland Islands hold the majority of the world populations of Black-browed Albatross, Striated Caracara, Ruddy-headed Goose and Flightless Steamer Duck, but the Falklands are best known for their penguins, with five breeding species and over a million penguins in total. Unfortunately Falkland penguins have declined by around 90% over recent years and are in urgent need of protection.
Falklands Conservation
WebsiteFalklands Conservation monitors and protects the exceptional wildlife heritage of the Falkland Islands. The Islands are one of the last great wilderness sites on Earth and form a unique bridge between the Antarctic and South American continent. We have offices in Stanley, Falkland Islands and London, England.
Falkland Islands Museum
http://www.falklands-museum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126&Itemid=182Administered by a group of dedicated Trustees, this wonderful collection is growing steadily and always well worth a visit...
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2002 [January] - Tim Earl
ReportThe following morning we awoke to bright sunshine and no wind... absolutely idyllic conditions for our first morning in the islands. The choice of Darwin as a start to our holiday was voted a hit as people wandered around the area watching new birds such as Magellanic Penguin (looking quite like a diver in the water); Ruddy-headed Geese, South Polar Skuas, Dark-faced Ground-tyrants and Black-chinned Siskins...
2006 [December] - Julian & Sandra Hughes
Report...A couple of pairs of Falkland flightless steamerducks drifted on the tide, while farther out a dozen black-browed albatrosses rested on the sea. On the land, amid the diddle-dee that dominates the land, dark-faced ground-tyrants were common, magellanic penguins stood by their burrow entrances and a few Falkland (correndera) pipits and black-throated finches had fledged young. Magellanic and blackish oystercatchers called from the beach, where a couple of Falkland-race black-crowned night-herons searched for food among the rocks. As we walked back to the cottage, a juvenile striated caracara perched on low vegetation, while a southern (crested) caracara looked lazily over a field of sheep...
2006 [November] - Mark Finn - Birdwatching Breaks
ReportOur first visit to this remote archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean was an undoubted success with 62 species being recorded. This included several vagrants to the islands notably Erect Crested Penguin, Great Grebe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope and Fire-eyed Duicon. In addition to this the sheer numbers of penguins and other seabirds made the tour a true birding bonanza...
2008 [December] - Adam Riley - Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia
ReportYes! Our adventure had commenced with the signal horn from the Captain! The MV Aleksey Maryshev was crowded with excited Rockjumper bird and nature enthusiasts about to fulfill their lifetime dream of visiting the most remote and wild place on Earth – Antarctica and its Subantarctic Isles...
2009 [January] - Tim Earl
Report...Bird of the trip was King Penguin closely followed by Black-browed Albatross. Wandering Albatross and Rockhopper Penguin came third, equally, with Black-crowned Night Heron, Sedge Wren, South American Snipe, Blackish Cinclodes (Tussockbird), Snowy Sheathbill and Long-tailed Meadowlark as close contenders...
2009 [November] - Dave Farrow
ReportThe following morning we found ourselves close inshore at Westpoint Island, where we dropped anchor and went ashore in the zodiacs for the first time. We trekked over the island to view the colony of Black-browed Albatrosses, calmly sitting on their curious nests as cute Rockhopper Penguins filled in the gaps, or lurked in the tussock grass. Some other splendid birds were also available here, such as Upland and Kelp Geese, a single Ruddy-headed Goose, the endemic Falkland Steamer Ducks, Speckled Teal, Variable Hawk, cheeky Striated Caracaras and wheatear-like Dark- faced Ground Tyrants...
2010 [January] - Trevor Hardaker - Antarctica, The Falklands, and South Georgia
Report...Our trip across to the Falkland Islands was a great introduction to the fantastic array of seabirds that inhabit these southern oceans. It gave us the opportunity to get to know the subtle differences between Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, enjoy the spectacular Cape Petrel as well as Great Shearwater and Slender-billed Prion, and to pick out the minute Wilson’s, Black-bellied and Grey- backed Storm Petrels over the vast ocean surface...
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Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Focus Nature Wildlife Tours
Tour OperatorWildlife holidays to the Falkland Islands offer exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. The combination of large seabird and mammal colonies and their relatively good tolerance of human presence affords superb opportunities for intimate encounters and photographs....
Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris
Tour OperatorAs veterans of many Antarctica expeditions, we`ve drawn on our broad experience to craft the foremost nature and photography tour to the legendary wildlife areas of South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands.
Environment
AccommodationTourist accommodation in the Falkland Islands is limited and anyone wishing to travel to the Islands must, therefore, arrange their accommodation directly with the hotel or through one of the agents listed on the Travel Page of this site before travelling...
Birds & Seals of the Falkland Islands
WebsiteThe Falklands is a haven for penguins, seabirds, seals, sealions and other wildlife. Indeed the Falkland Islands holds the majority of the world population of Black-browed Albatross, Striated Caracara, Ruddy-headed Goose and Flightless Steamer Duck. But the Falklands are best known for their penguins, with five breeding species and over a million penguins in total. That is a lot of penguins, but Falklands penguins numbered over 6 million in 1984...
Checklist Birds of the Falkland Islands
ChecklistFalkland Island Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
WebsiteFalkland Island Sedge Wrens (Cistothorus platensis) imitate rather than improvise large song repertoires...
Falklands Wildlife
WebsiteChecklists of Birds, Mammals, Freshwater Fish and Plants...
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This site was last updated on Monday, 29th April 2013.