Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The rugged and windswept Falklands are home to relatively few bird species but the archipelago offers some of the most accessible penguins, albatrosses and other seabirds in the world as well as the endemic Falklands Flightless Steamer-Duck and several endemic subspecies. These islands are largely treeless and the main vegetation is grasses and a few species of low shrubs. The only trees present have been introduced. There are two main islands, East and West Falkland, split by Falkland Sound, an hundreds of smaller islands, mainly off West Falkland. The coastline is deeply indented and there are many wide sandy beaches.

Stanley is the main town of the Falklands and situated in the north-east of East Falkland. The endemic Steamer-duck is common here and seabirds include Southern Giant-Petrel, Rock Shag, Kelp Gull and Dolphin Gull and South American Tern. Black-crowned Night-Heron and Turkey Vulture can also be seen and in gardens and fields around Stanley there are Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant, Correndera Pipit, Austral Thrush, Long-tailed Meadowlark, Black-throated Finch and Black-chinned Siskin. Five km east of Stanley is Penguin Walk where Gentoo Penguin, Magellanic Penguin and sometimes, King Penguin can be seen. Black-browed Albatross may be seen offshore.

Boat-trips and flights to Kidney Island can be arranged at Stanley, an island reserve established to protect the dwindling tussac-grass which is now much reduced in the Falklands. Birds to be seen here include Rockhopper, Magellanic Penguin and a few Macaroni Penguins, White-chinned Petrel, Great Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel and Imperial Shag. Short-eared Owl, Blackish Cinclodes and Sedge Wren and House Wren can also be found.

Permission is required to visit Volunteer Point which can be obtainable at Johnson's Harbour. King Penguin breeds here as well as Gentoo Penguin and Magellanic Penguin and other seabirds seen from the beach or during the boat crossing can include Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross and Grey-headed Albatross, Southern Fulmar, Cape Petrel and Common Diving-Petrel. Blackish Oystercatcher and Rufous-chested Dotterel can be seen on the beach.

Pebble Island, off the north coast of West Falkland, supports two particularly rare species, Ruddy-headed Goose and Striated Caracara as well as penguins, Flying Steamer-Duck, Snowy Sheathbill, Silvery Grebe and White-tufted Grebe, Black-necked Swan, Chiloe Wigeon, Yellow-billed Duck and Silver Teal. Lodge accommodation is available on the island which can be reached on a 40min flight from Stanley.

Rabbits and hares and rats and mice have been introduced to the Falklands from Europe and Guanaco and Patagonian Fox from South America but the main mammalian interest in the archipelago is sea-mammals. Southern Sealion, South American Fur Seal and Southern Elephant Seal breed and cetaceans regularly seen in Falklands waters include Peale's Dolphin, Hourglass Dolphin and Commerson's Dolphin and Killer Whale.

The Falkland Islands are situated about 500km east of Argentina and can be reached by air from Argentina although the three-day boat-trip from Montevideo, Uruguay, would undoubtedly be good fro pelagic species. Car-hire is available on the islands and many of the more remote islands off West Falkland such as New Island and Carcass Island are now accessible by air from Stanley.

Birds

{{BirdsSee|King Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, Macaroni Penguin, Magellanic Penguin, White-tufted Grebe, Silvery Grebe, Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, two races present epomophora and sanfordi), Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Northern Giant-Petrel, status uncertain), Southern Giant-Petrel, Southern Fulmar, Cape Petrel, present Apr-Nov), Kerguelen Petrel, recorded in southern winter), Soft-plumaged Petrel, aminly Dec-Apr), Blue Petrel, mainly in southern winter), Dove, status uncertain), Broad-billed Prion, Fairy Prion, Grey Petrel, recorded Feb-Jun), White-chinned Petrel, breeds New Island and Kidney Island), Great Shearwater, breeds on Kidney Island), Sooty Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, [[breeds on Beauch�ne Island and Grand Jason Island]], possibly elsewhere), Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, breeds Kidney Island, probably elsewhere), Common Diving-Petrel, [[present in southern summer breeding on Beauch�ne Island]], Kidney Island, Cochon and Flat Jason Islands, Magellan Diving-Petrel, possibly a rare non-breeding visitor), Rock Shag, Imperial Shag, Cocoi Heron, Great Egret, rare non-breeding visitor), Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, [[recorded Mar-Apr and Oct-Nov) Black-necked Swan, Feral Greylag Goose, Ashy-headed Goose, Ruddy-headed Goose, Upland, Kelp Goose, Crested Duck, Falklands Flightless Steamer-Duck, Flying Steamer-Duck, Speckled Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, Yellow-billed Pintail, scarce but widespread), Silver Teal, Cinnamon Teal, status uncertain, possibly a rare breeder), Turkey Vulture, Red-backed Hawk, scarce but widespread), Cinereous Harrier, now perhaps a vagrant), Striated, [[on Sea Lion Island and Beauch�ne Island)]], Crested Caracara, Peregrine Falcon, Blackish Oystercatcher, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Two-banded Plover, Rufous-chested Dotterel, Magellanic Snipe, Cordilleran Snipe, may be a rare breeder), Sanderling, Sep-Jun), White-rumped Sandpiper, Snowy Sheathbill, breeding status uncertain), South Polar Skua, Mar-Apr and Oct), Antarctic Skua, Chilean Skua, rare visitor, possibly occasional breeder), Dolphin, Kelp, Brown-hooded Gull, Arctic Tern, recorded offshore throughout the year), Antarctic Tern, South American Tern, Short-eared Owl, Blackish Cinclodes, Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant, Chilean Swallow, rare breeder), Barn Swallow, rare migrant), Correndera Pipit, Sedge Wren, House Wren, Austral Thrush, Long-tailed Meadowlark, Black-throated Finch, House Sparrow, Black-chinned Siskin}}

Content and images originally posted by Steve

Reviews

Wickham's review

Pros

• These islands are fairly sparsely populated so the birds are easier to approach
• especially the penguins. Even caracaras
• hawks and small birds like dotterels are approachable so some care is needed to be quiet and not to disturb nests

Alan henry's review

Come visit us very soon for some of the best birding in the world

Pros

• All birds are very approachable
• possible to see six species of penguins in one day on Pebble Island.

Cons

• Some time very windy making birding on land very difficult but the sea watching is breath taking