We've just come back from our first shore excursion which was New Island in the Falklands. What a start!!! I woke up this morning with a nervous stomach. I'm not sure what I was nervous about - maybe the fact that my calves are too big for the boots which means they dont come all the way up to my knees and instead bunch around my ankles, maybe I was newrvous about not being able to get in and out of hte Zodiacs (not so fond memories of being hauled into rafts in rapids on previous trips). Eith way I had nothing to be nervous about. Getting into the zodiacs was easy. Ours was the second one to land on the island. I'd brought my hiking boots but decided to leave them in mybag and try the easy hike across the island in my wellies. Yes my foot slid around inside but I managed ok.

Once we got to the nesting site... WOW!!! Hundreds of rockhopper penguins and their chicks nesting among King Shags, blue eyed shags and black browed albatross. It was amazing. The albatross seemed to have the left side of the cliff, the shags/cormorants the right and the rockhoppers through the middle.

I sat for a while just watching. The rockhopper chicks huddles in groups protected by an overbearing nanny. ANy time one of them wandered off the nanny would chase after them and peck them on the bum until they rejoined the group. ALl the time the adults are screeching at each other sounding like rusty barn doors.

The cormorant chicks stayed in their nests squarking at their parents for food. The albatross chicks were adorable. All grey and fluffy with markings that looked like straps holding their beaks on. Their parents with their geisha painted faces trying not to suffocate them as they sat on the chicks.

There was an opportunity to take a steep walk down the rockface to watch the penguins getting out of the water. I opted to stay behind in the interests of safety (not confident of climbing slippery slopes in ill fitting boots). This turned out to be a smart move. One lady hurt her ankle and had to be carried back.

Most people went on the walk which meant I could have some quiet time just sitting with the birds. It was entertaining watching the cormorants stealing bits of each others nests and the rockhoppers doing their funny little jumps up and down the rocks. One of the shags got curious and walked right up to me, turning his head quizzicly as he checked me out. He was so close I could have reached out and touched him but I didnt dare move for fear of scaring him off. Apparantly someone did take a photo of it so hopefully I can get a copy.

This afternoon we went to West Point, also in the falklands and were entertained by more rockhoppers and the beautifully breeding albatross. This time they were nesting among the Tussock Grasses on the far side of the island. The lovely people who manage to small settlement on the island ferried some of us across in an old jeep, and then we walked through Tussock that was taller than I am to find the birds hidden within. It was mainly albatross here and I am fast falling in love with these beautiful, elegant fliers.