December 30, 2024
In Ushuaia we took a wildlife cruise in the Beagle Channel
to see seals and penguins.
The view from the ship was beautiful when we entered Ushuaia.
After boarding our tour boat, we headed to search for wildlife. Our first sighting was a colony of imperial cormorants.
It was fascinating to watch the southern giant petrels who looked like they were running on the water as they landed. Petrels were named after the apostle Peter who walked on water to go to Jesus. They like to follow boats, especially fishing boats in hopes of a free snack.
The male and female kelp goose are strikingly different. We saw the snowy white male first at a distance and later saw the female at closer range wading through some kelp.
There was also a large southern fur seal.
A small group of Magellanic cormorants with their distinctive red markings were nesting nearby.
More imperial cormorants surrounded the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse.
We saw South American sea lions next. They have bigger heads and flippers than the fur seals. You can see the big bull with the smaller females and pups.
We saw some racing sailboats enjoying the Beagle Channel with us.
Penguins were are final wildlife stop. We were near the Magellan penguins and got to watch them on land
and in the water.
A little ways away by another boat, there was a colony of gentoo penguins.
We also saw skua, the bane of the penguins- particularly when they have eggs or small chicks.
The sail away from Ushuaia and the scenery in Tierra del Fuego was amazing.
Comentarios