The southern predator

Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Canon EOS-D MarkI II, 70-200mm, f/4, 1/320 @ f/4, ISO 400, Hoya Polarizer

One of the species I really wanted to see while I was in the Southern Ocean was the top predator, the Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx). On one of the last days I was happy to discover one lurking between a couple of nice ice-bergs. We went over in the Zodiacs and eventually it seemed the beautiful seal was quit curious. It came in really close so I dropped my 500mm and continued with the 70-200mm. After shooting a couple of frames I realized I wanted to include some of the amazing scenery we were drifting around in so I went over to use the 17-40mm. By attaching a polarizer I was able to shot the graceful movements of the Leopard Seal under water using the ice-berg as background.

Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Canon EOS-D MarkI II, 17-40mm, f/4, 1/500 @ f/4, ISO 400, Hoya Polarizer

This was an amazing experience that to my opinion gave me one of my best shots (among many) from this trip. The Leopard Seal under water, in the Antarctic landscape.

500.000 penguins on the beach

Heaney River at St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, 70-200mm, f/2,8, 1/30 @ f/22, ISO 100, Hoya polarizer

It is impossible to describe the sound and smell of 500.000 King Penguins. You have to go to St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia to experience it. This spot is definitely on of the worlds best places to be for a wildlife photographer. I was lucky and had an early landing around six o'clock giving me some nice morning light and plenty of time to work with my subjects. Thanks to PolarQuest for excellent guiding on this trip.

The lifeguard was not very happy with the new arrivals not wearing proper swimming suits.
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II,17-40mm, f/4, 1/250 @ f/4, ISO 400, Hoya polarizer

King Penguin diving into the surf at St. Andrews Bay
Canon EOS-1D MarkI II,500mm, f/4, 1/1250 @ f/6,3, ISO 200

Elephant seals

Being in the amazing island of South-Georgia I was hoping to get some nice shots of the massive Elephant Seal. Of course as with most wildlife on this island I didn't have to look very far. It took however some time before I got some of the shots I wanted. I was particularly happy with this wide angle shot from a ground perspective.


The bull seals defend their harem at all costs. If a smaller male gets to close it will be chased off while cows and calfs are trying to escape the 3-4 tonn beachmaster.


Fighting between equally sized males can result in some serious damage to the head and neck. In the world of the Elephant Seal; the winner takes it all!

South-Georgia

Salisbury Plains - South-Georgia

What a place! Five days packed with stunning wildlife, scenery and weather. South-Georgia is truely a place to remember. At the moment I'm sitting in a hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina with a nice cup of coffee waiting for the Buenos Aires flight later on today. I thought I would tease you with a couple of shots from Salbury Plains in snowstorm. There will be more to come, both from South-Georgia and the Antarctic.

King penguin

Elephant Seal bull

Fur Seal bull

Falkland Islands

Pair of Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocoma) on the Falklands

It has been a long day with lots of wind, and I am extreemly tired. The prospect of getting up before 4 o'clock tomorrow morning doesn't help. But after seeing what these amazing islands can bring in one day, I am really eager to get back out as soon as light comes.

Today I have been visiting a Rockhopper colony outside Stanley. This was my first, of many to come, encounters with wild penguins. Fascinating creatures.

Rockhopper on the lookout, Falklands

I addition to the penguins I have seen lots of excotic wildlife in harsh landscapes. I can understand why Charles Darwin claimed these islands to be a Bog Hole, but he didn't look hard enough!

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Falklands.

Tomorrow I will enter the ship taking me to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninnsula. This means the blogg will be quit for a while, but I hope these few images will make you come back later to see what I get in the Southern Oceans.

Male Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus), Falklands

One day in Chile

Adult Andean Condor chasing a juvenile, Chile.

I have finally reached the southern ocean, and the Falkland Islands. I'm staying in a nice guesthouse in Stanley for the next couple of days and will therefore be able to update the blogg.

I spent a couple of nights in Santiago, Chile, and managed to get one trip into the Andean mountain range. It was truely an amazing place! I was hoping to see the Condor, and was I lucky??? I had not less than thirteen condors flying overhead at the same time. Mostly they were far away, but I was lucky to get an adult bird chasing of a juvenile at fairly good range. I was quit surprised to see the abundance of birds in these rugged mounatins, and I got some pretty nice shots even if my stay was shot. I even managed to get sunburned in the thin air at 3000 meters.

Red-backed Hawk in morning light.

The Andean landscape was absolutely stunning, and I am already eager to go back one day. But first, I am going to enjoy my stay in the Falklands before heading east to South-Georgia and the Antarctic. I'll be back with some Falkland wildlife shortly.

Morning sun at a small Andean peak about 3000 meters above sea-level