Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island

 This morning we had the opportunity to go ashore at Sandy Bay. Seas were fairly calm and the Zodiac drivers first took us south a bit so we could see colonies of Rockhopper penguins. We weren’t allowed to go ashore though. Then we were dropped off at Sandy Bay and spent almost 2 hours wandering along part of the beach. True, it was “ Sandy” but not as we call “ Sandy”  - the sand is black and coarse. Quite difficult to walk across, especially when you’re trying to avoid elephant seals and the penguins are curious.

These are the Rockhopper penguins, but they didn’t do much hopping!

How would you like to live here for 9 months? Ranger station.

King penguin - what a handsome fellow! Literally right at my feet.

Would you believe that brown one is a chick?

And this bedraggled fellow is moulting.

Yes I know I’m gorgeous!

Royal penguin. Get a load of its pink feet and crowned head!

One of the mega herbs.

A beautiful fern.

A couple of King penguins, with the flap of abdominal skin called the brood patch, that covers either an egg or a chick.

Another panorama. Impossible to describe the huge numbers present.

And just in case you’re wondering, penguin feathers from moulting.

Tomorrow is a day at sea and we plan to do something boring like the laundry.