Day Three - Monday

Our first Zodiac Landing on New Island - a privately owned conservation site to the south west of West Falkland 

After our first Zodiac Landing, we had a short hike across the island to the windward side passing Kelp geese on the landing beach and Ruddy-headed geese along the way.

We found large colonies of nesting Rockhopper Penguins, Black-browed Albatross and a few Imperial cormorants above the cliffs. There were also Brown Skuas waiting for the chance to steal an unguarded chick and Striated Caracals which are the only predator on the Island.

A warm sunny day – around 12C – with winds gusting to 15-20kts in unsheltered areas. A good first landing and then back on board for lunch while the vessel steamed towards the north-west of West Falkland and our afternoon destination.

Back in the zodiacs after lunch for a visit to West Point Island – privately owned and farmed- where we had a longer hike (2 km each way) to some more nesting colonies of Rockhoppers and Albatross – also on the windward side. Although it was a warm sunny afternoon, there was a cold wind blowing off the South Atlantic

A chance for us to see some of the indigenous, plants along the way – although many of our fellow passengers took advantage of the Land-Rover shuttle service that the owners had laid on.

Because there are a large number of sheep on the island, we also saw quite a few Turkey vultures.

After hiking there and back we were invited into the farm house where the owners had provided tea and cakes which would have outdone  Mrs Doyle – or even Sheryl McCormack’s spread.