THE SOUTH - PATAGONIA
part 2 - Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas and around

Dolphin gull - Larus scoresbii

 Dolphin gull (Larus scoresbii) cleaning its wings in Puerto Natales harbour

.Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) return from a fishing trip in Seno Otway penguin colony. This group was scared a bit by a Patagonian skunk looking for eggs.

Magellanic penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus

Magellanic penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus

 Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) collecting straws to furnish its underground nest. Much like the unrelated but ecologically similar puffins of the northern hemisphere, Magellanic penguins breed in underground burrows.
A ņandu (Pterocnemia pennata ssp. pennata) in Seno Otway penguin colony. Nandu - Rhea - Pterocnemia pennata

Puerto Natales docks

 Puerto Natales docks.
The ruined pier at Puerto Natales. Now completely rotten and inaccessible, it is a resting place for cormorants (King and Blue-eyed, Phalacrocorax atriceps). puerto natales pier
puerto natales doorway puerto natales doorway

Doorways in Puerto Natales. Many houses are made of wood or corrugated iron and date back from the 1910s-1030s. The place seems to have fallen asleep since then.

Black-necked swans - Cygnus melancoryphus

 Black-necked swans (Cygnus melancoryphus) off Puerto Natales.

Punta Arenas harbour

 Punta Arenas harbour

Punta Arenas view

 Punta Arenas from the hill above the town. A much larger and livelier place than Puerto Natales.

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