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Wildlife

Table of Contents

 King Penguins, East Falkland

Cetaceans

Dolphin jump The Peale's Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis) are the most acrobatic we have seen so far. Commerson's dolphin Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus Commersonii) are found on the southern coast of Argentina. They are beautiful creatures but do not seem as gregarious as the dolphins we have seen up to now. They are protected in Rio Deseado. Azores dolphin Dolphins love playing in our bow wave, when we are sailing quickly enough to keep them interested!
Whale fin In the Chilean Channels we have seen whales swimming very close to the shores (which are very steep so the depth often 100m+). Bottle Nosed Dolphin Bottle Nosed Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) played with us between the Galapagos Islands. These incredible animals made sure they kept eye contact with us and seemed to appreciate an audience. commerson dolphin Commerson's dolphins are strikingly beautiful.
pilot whale A large pod of Pilot Whales swam with us just a few days out of the Galapagos Islands. I am not sure but I think these are Short Finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). pilot whales These Pilot Whales played in our bow wave for a while but seemed more interested in our towed generator.

Fishes

White tip reef sharks White Tip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) basking on the volcanic reef of Isla Isabela in the Galapagos Archipelago. Black tip reef shark Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) at Moorea. Sharks and rays Black tip reef sharks and rays in Moorea.
Ray Rays at Opunohu Bay, Moorea. Ray The Rays were so used to people that they would bump into us, clearly we were no threat. Ray Ray camouflaged in the sand at Moorea.
Parrot Fish The Parrot Fish belongs to the family Scaridae . This one was seen at Tahaa. Spotted Ray Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)  gliding off the coral shelf at Tahaa. Reef fish Reef fish at Tahaa. Unfortunately we don't have the books onboard to identify these but would welcome any information!

Flora

lily A lily on Tercera Tresco flowers The gardens at Tresco in Scilly are filled with flowers from all over the world. Tresco Flower The Abbey Gardens in Tresco.
Snow Plant Even the smallest plants are hardy in the Chilean Channels. Sideways tree The winds in southern Chile are relentless. As a result some trees have adopted the tactic of growing low to the ground and literally, sideways! cactus On Isla Damas off the Atacama Desert, the cactus plants were in bloom.
cactus We did not venture too close to this cactus on Isla Damas - we have SEEN "Alien". Moorea flower The Society Islands are a riot of colourful vegetation.

Invertebrates

Compass jellyfish Compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella) are so-called because of the lines which radiate from the centre of the body. Due to the cool waters of the Humboldt Current, the waters off northern Chile were thick with them. Sea Cucumber Sea Cucumbers (to the right of the photo) belong to the class Holothuroidea . Though not the most glamerous of creatures to be found on the reef they help keep the environment clean by feeding of the detrius on the bottom. Blue Clam There were several of these clams on the reef shelf at Tahaa.

Pinnipeds

Suckling sealions Female sealion suckling her pup on San Cristobal, Galapagos Archipelago sealion Sealions were a common and always entertaining sight in Chile. male sealion These South American (Southern) Sea Lions (Otaria Byronia) took up residence in our tender during our stay in Puerto Madryn. The female arrived first before the larger male decided that it was his turn.
female sealion Her mate had other ideas! Plata sealions Possibly the laziest (or smartest) sealions in the world. They live in the fishing harbour in Mar Del Plata and just wait for the fishermen to return each day. They feast while the fishermen clean their catches.

Reptiles

Marine iguana The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Its sooty black skin is a camouflage against predators and enables it to absorb more heat during its exposure to the sun. Marine iguanas During the El Nino season of 1982/3, the green algae on which marine iguanas feed disappeared and their mortality rate increased to 60%. Green Turtle Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas)  are protected. They are nonetheless dwindling in numbers as they are still hunted for eating in parts of the world. They are named for the colour of their fat.
Green Turtles Green Turtles at the Hibiscus Foundation, Tahaa. These turtles were caught in fishing traps but the foundation bought them from the fishermen. Once they are strong enough, they will be released near the protected atoll of Scilly.

Seabirds

Penguins (Order Sphenisciformes, Family Spheniscidae)

Caleta Sara colony There is a large colony of Magellenic Penguins (Spheniscus Magellanicus) at Caleta Sara, Argentina. Magellanic Penguin Magellanic Penguin at Caleta Sara Gentoo Penguins Gentoo Penguins were fantastically curious!
King Penguins The King Penguins on the Falkland Islands have an unusual breeding cycle so chicks hatch throughout much of the year. King Penguins Volunteer Point in East Falkland hosts a large colony of magnificent King Penguins (Aptenodytes p. patagonica) as well as the smaller Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua). Humboldt Penguin The little Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus Humboldti) is easily confused with the Magellanic Penguin, though he lacks the latter's breast band. He is found on the coast of Peru and Chile.
Galapagos Penguin The Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is one of the smaller penguin species and is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters (Order Procellariiformes)

Albatrosses (Family Diomedeidae)

Black Browed Albatros A black browed albatross (Diomedea Melanophris) followed us for about three days before and during a Pampero en route to Argentina. They are so called because of their black "eye makeup" - this is in fact a shadow. Take off! Take off! Royal Albatros We saw this Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) off Chile's Pacific coast.
Royal Albatross This Royal Albatross - northern race (Diomedea epomophora sanfordi) followed us off the northern Chilean coast

Petrels and Shearwaters (Family Procellariidae)

Giant Petrels Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) - (the size of a small dog!)These birds are incredible to watch in flight. They seem to effortlessly skim the waves and clear the roughest water by millimetres. They appear to delight in high winds. (I guess someone has to..) Greater Shearwater The Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) is found across the Atlantic Ocean. They breed on the Atlantic Islands including the Falkand Islands. Cape Petrel The striking Cape Petrel (Daption capense) is very fast and really beautiful to watch diving over the waves in search of fish.
Cape Petrel Petrel Giant Petrel in the Falklands

Pelicans, Cormorants, Shags, Boobies, Tropicbirds and Frigatebirds (Order Pelecaniformes)

Pelicans (Family Pelecanidae)

Pelican Landing The pelicans have a certain flair to their landing. Splashing Pelicans Each afternoon the pelicans bathe in the waters of the marina at Algarrobo. Brown Pelican The brown pelicans became a common sight north of Valdivia.
Flying Pelicans En route to Valparaiso we never tired of watching these huge birds.

Cormorants and Shags (Family Phalacrocoracidae)

Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Atriceps Atriceps) are becoming a more common site in Argentine Patagonia. Cormorant Deseado Cormorant
Rock Cormorant Rock Shags (Phalacrocorax magellanicus) are native to the Falkland Islands. rock cormorants In the Chilean Channels, the rock cormorants rarely let a perfectly good rock remain unoccupied.

Boobies (Family Sulidae)

Blue footed booby Blue footed booby (Sula nebouxii) at the Galapagos Islands. These unique birds are endemic. (photo by Lotus) Diving boobies Blue footed boobies plunging into a school of fish. Masked Booby The Nazca Booby (Sula Granti) usually lays two eggs, five days apart but the clutch is quickly reduced after the 43 day incubation period due to an unavoidable fratricide - food sources are not abundant. They breed on the Galapagos Islands.
Booby The Peruvian Booby (Sula variegata), found off the coasts of Peru and Chile. Diving Booby A Peruvian Booby caught in mid-dive Red Footed Booby This Red Footed Booby (Sula sula) took a rest on board Lotus'  wind generator. Venus is in the background. (photo by Lotus)
Brown Booby A Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) taking a breather on a buoy at Nuku Hiva Brown Booby Nest A variant of the Red Footed Booby nesting at Suwarrow Atoll, Northen Cooks Booby Chick Red Footed Booby chick at Sawarrow Atoll

Tropicbirds (Family Phaethontidae)

Red billed tropicbird Red Billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) off the north west coast of South America. . Red billed tropicbird He is doing a double take at our huge wings. Nesting Tropicbird This Red Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) was nesting at Sawarrow Atoll. Later we had an opportunity to see some chicks and they were like huge white puff balls!

Frigatebirds (Family Fregatidae)

Great Frigate Bird A female Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) off Ecuador. Male Frigatebird The Male Frigatebird has a red pouch which he puffs up to seduce his mate. Father Frigate The Male Frigatebird shares nesting duties with his mate.
Mother Frigate The Female protects the nest as the male takes a break. Hatching Frigate We watched this tiny chick battle his way out of the egg.

Ducks and Geese (Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae)

Female Upland Goose Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta leucoptera) (female) kelp goose Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) Flightless Steamer Duck Falklands Flightless Steamer Ducks (Tachyeres brachypterus) use their wings like the paddles on a paddle steamer. They are a funny sight belting off across the water.

Gulls and Terns (Order Charadriiformes)

Gulls (Family Laridae)

nesting lava gull The Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus) to the Galapagos Archipelago. This bird was nesting at Isla Isabela, the adults protect the nests by using their feet to hit any aggressor. Kelp gull Kelp Gull kelp gulls Kelp Gulls (Larus Dominicanus Dominicanus) are a common sight off the Argentine coast. The bird in the middle is a black browed albatross.

Terns (Family Sternidae)

Fairy Tern Fairy Tern at Suwarrow, Northern Cooks Terns South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) in flight over the Beagle Channel and resting on our bow in Golfo Nuevo. Royal Tern Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) fishing at Puerto Lucia, Ecuador.
Sooty Tern and Chick Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) with chick at Sawarrow Atoll. juvenile sooty tern Juvenile Sooty Tern Fairy Tern Fairy Tern or Common White Tern (Gygis alba) at Sawarrow

Land Animals

Turkey Vulture Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura falklandica) have a wide distribution in the Americas from Tierra Del Fuego to Canada Turkey Vulture Turkey Vultures - a common sight in Chile Black Crowned Night Heron Black -Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax cyanocephalus).
Guanaco The Guanaco (Llama Guanicoe Guamicoe) is indigenous to Patagonia. Kingfisher This Kingfisher sits on the bows of the boats in Puerto Williams as they are the ideal place from which he can look for food. Falcoln This bird is a Chimango or Tiuque from the Falcon family (Milvago chimango) and is widely distributed in Chile and Argentina. This guy decided to catch a ride on our bow for a few minutes.
Iguana These land iguanas live in Parque Bolivar in Guayaquil. Darwin finch The Darwin's finch was a major contributor to the development of the Theory of Evolution Galapago The Giant Tortoise or Galapago
Black Oystercatchers Black Oystercatchers (Hamematopus ater) are found along the South American Coast from Peru, Chile and around to the River Plate in Argentina.