Like most visitors to the Falkland Islands, Gypsy Cove was our first experience of penguins. They started to arrive in late September and began the task of selecting and clearing their underground burrows. At this time of year there are no tourists in Stanley and there is space to enjoy the wildlife in seclusion.
The 'Jackass' nickname is apt. These penguins bray like jackasses to announce their arrival at the burrow and display their seniority to other members of the colony. Like most of the wildlife here, they are surprisingly unconcerned by the presence of humans (unless they tread on the roof of their burrow!!).
Magellanic Penguins are 14-15 inches tall, and are pure black and white when they leave the water. However, the constant digging and shuffling in the burrows usually adds an unnatural peaty-brown coating to birds that have been on land for a few minutes. When in the burrow they coyly cock their heads from side-to-side in an attempt to keep the observer in focus. Penguins are made for water - not land!
