Finally . . .

Finally I've got some penguin photos for you . . .

Several weeks ago, I took a snowmobile trip out near the sea ice edge to help break down a field camp breaking down camp studying ice pressure and movement.

There was wasn't loads of work to do, so mostly we played with penguins!

When we first came upon them, they were about fifty yards out. We stopped our machines, and sat down. Like long lost freinds, they all came sprinting towards us.

"Sprinting" for a penguin involves awkwardly waddling toward you, flapping its wings in the air; after a minute - stopping, plopping down and resting, re-evaluating, waiting for stragglers, checking out what everyone else is doing, honking in each other's faces, and then continuing the surge.

After a few minutes, they come to a halt about ten feet from you, and just stare, "what in the hell . . . ". Twenty minutes later, they've become bored with you, and they either plop down for another rest, begin entertaining one another, or continue on down to road, in search of God knows what . . .

I have to say, penguin encounters are at the absolute top of my list of coolest things I've ever done. They're so playful, and animated, and apparently friendly, and entertaining - just incredible personality to these birds. Something about when an animal looks you in the eye . . .