Day 11 Fotos from the Pinguinera on Seno Otway

Most of this day was spent either driving or waiting but we did get to go to a place I had never visited before. The penguin rookery (pinguinera) on Seno Otway, just north of Punta Arenas, is a highly entertaining experience no matter how bad the day has been or how lousy the weather is. Seno Otway is one of two large sounds that enter the Chilean coast just north of the Straits of Magellan. The other is Seno Skyring. The shores of both are nearly uninhabited by people.

This is the smallest rookery I have visited. At last census, there were about 10,000 birds. Most of them make their burrows out on the pampas, several hundred meters from the shoreline.

The numerous chicks were well on their way to becoming adults.

This is a typical penguin burrow. These birds are all Magellanic Penguins.

The baby fat wears off quickly once the young get their juvenile feathers and can take to the water.

There is always constant activity at the shoreface.

It was just another day at the beach!

Preening seems to be a favorite activity of the beach penguins. An older juvenile appears to be playing tag with a parent in the water.

Adults stand about 60 cm high.