11th November 2009 - Granite island Penguins and sunset
As dusk fell we walked over the causeway from Victor Harbor which stretches out into Encounter Bay to Granite island.
We were joining the evening penguin tour. Granite island is the home to a colony of Little Penguins "Eudyptula minor". The tour follows the boardwalk around the visitor centre.
Whilst waiting for the tour to start we were treated to a colourful sunset.
Looking East towards Port Eliott there were vivid purples and blues,
There were golden reflections on the water.
The penguins who have been out at sea all day fishing return to thier burrows after dusk.
On the tour we are not allowed to use a camera flash and the guides use a red coloured torch as the penguins eyes are easily damaged by bright light.
So these images were taken handheld at 1600ISO using a 135-400 zoom - quite a challenge to focus and keep still!
Earlier in the day we visited the penguin centre where they look after orphaned chicks.
When we last visited Granite island five years earlier there were over 700 individuals and we were shocked to learn that in five years this number has reduced to under 200!
The little penguins are also known as Blue or Fairy Penguins. Adults stand 35cm tall and they weigh 1.2kg.
We believe one of the reasons for the decline in penguin numbers is a rise in the resident fur seal population.
after the tour we returned to Victor.
More information on these penquins can be found on the Granite island website.
5 November
Seal bay conservation park
6 November
Pelican feeding
Kingscote
