Stanley is the only town and it is not big by any standards. We were amazed by the rocky terrain and the lack of trees. How does anybody exist here? Lots of sheep and some cattle. Off shore oil. Now we know why Argentina wants the islands!
As we drive into the countryside (which is only 2 blocks out of town) we start seeing the remnants of glacier activity and the "rivers" of rock.
No wonder there is little vegetation, this is the soil.
We drove out to Elephant Point (2 hours) to a colony of Magellanic penguins. They make their nests by burrowing into the sandy soil 100-200 yards from the beach. Here is a dark chick protected by a parent. Don't stick your hand in a hole, they can bite OFF your finger.
This is the beach used by Gentoo and Magellanic to enter the ocean. They spent much of their time here preening.
I loved watching them push themselves along on their stomachs. It looks fun!
Walking is pretty entertaining too.
There were a few King penguins on the beach also. Zoom in on the photo and you can see all the fleas on the King. No wonder they preen all the time. He was just starting his molt.
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I said "DON'T TOUCH MY TAIL"
Magellanic on the left and right, Gentoo in the middle. And if you get hungry, just dive into the ocean.
The Gentoo penguins had their rookery about a mile up this hill. One adult would stay with the young and the other would walk down the hill to feed in the ocean and bring back food to the chick.
We followed this group up the hill
The babies were so cute. The skuas (large raptor) were waiting on the edge of the colony to swoop in and take the chicks if a parent wasn't on guard.
There were easily a thousand penguins here.
This group was getting read to leave to feed in the ocean
Stanley is the only town and it is not big by any standards. We were amazed by the rocky terrain and the lack of trees. How does anybody exist here? Lots of sheep and some cattle. Off shore oil. Now we know why Argentina wants the islands!
As we drive into the countryside (which is only 2 blocks out of town) we start seeing the remnants of glacier activity and the "rivers" of rock. 
No wonder there is little vegetation, this is the soil.
We drove out to Elephant Point (2 hours) to a colony of Magellanic penguins. They make their nests by burrowing into the sandy soil 100-200 yards from the beach. Here is a dark chick protected by a parent. Don't stick your hand in a hole, they can bite OFF your finger.
This is the beach used by Gentoo and Magellanic to enter the ocean. They spent much of their time here preening.
I loved watching them push themselves along on their stomachs. It looks fun!
Walking is pretty entertaining too. 
There were a few King penguins on the beach also. Zoom in on the photo and you can see all the fleas on the King. No wonder they preen all the time. He was just starting his molt..jpg)
I said "DON'T TOUCH MY TAIL"
Magellanic on the left and right, Gentoo in the middle. And if you get hungry, just dive into the ocean.
The Gentoo penguins had their rookery about a mile up this hill. One adult would stay with the young and the other would walk down the hill to feed in the ocean and bring back food to the chick. 
We followed this group up the hill
The babies were so cute. The skuas (large raptor) were waiting on the edge of the colony to swoop in and take the chicks if a parent wasn't on guard.
There were easily a thousand penguins here.
This group was getting read to leave to feed in the ocean
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