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Punta Tombo

The Biggest Penguin Colony Outside Of Antarctica

Many Penguins sing ... Actually, let´s call it scream! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Many Penguins sing … Actually, let´s call it scream! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

About 120 km south of Trelew is the other main attraction of this region: the biggest penguin colony outside of Antarctica. An estimated 175.000 couples (some say 200.000 couples) of Magellanic Penguins arrive here in August / September to build nests and lay eggs.

 

 

 

 

No idea what they are doing, but they seem to cuddle ... Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

No idea what they are doing, but they seem to cuddle … Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Hetching its egg ... But also enjoying the sun! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Hetching its egg … But also enjoying the sun! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Building the nest ... Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Building the nest … Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Around mid November the eggs are hatched. Males and females take turn feeding the hungry chicks. At this time of the year it is quite noisy around the area, with adults and young ones alike braying loudly. These penguins live in holes they dig into the ground or under the omnipresent bushes. It seemed to us that literally every bush sheltered the nest of a penguin family.

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

It is a place that everybody falls in love with. These small creatures, averaging 45 cm high, are just sooo cute, no matter whether they are walking, resting, sunbathing, swimming, teasing each other or twisting their necks when curiously looking at you!

No Penguin accepted to pose with both of us ... Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

No Penguin accepted to pose with both of us … Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

This Penguin posed with about 20 tourists, just the time we were there!!! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

This Penguin posed with about 20 tourists, just the time we were there!!! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Gilles, really surrounded by Penguins! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Gilles, really surrounded by Penguins! Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

We were walking around for hours, taking zillions of photos and enjoying the special experience. Despite the many tourists visiting most of the penguins are still rather shy, although some are rather cheeky, cutting the path right in front of you. When it comes to touching them, it is simply no. They snap at you with their hard beaks and that is it!

There is nothing like a good swim ... Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

There is nothing like a good swim … Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

There is nothing like a good swim ... Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

There is nothing like a good swim … Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Adult Penguin in its nest and a small one hidding under ... Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Adult Penguin in its nest and a small one hidding under … Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

His young one already dares to leave the nest to see the outside world ...  Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

His young one already dares to leave the nest to see the outside world …
Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Punta Tombo, Peninsula Valdez, North Patagonia, Argentina, South America

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