The English navigator, Captain John Davis, was the first to accurately record the position of the Falkland Islands in 1592. However, no one landed on the islands until 1690 when the Welfare landed on West Falkland Islands to replenish their dwindling water supplies. The Falklands were first colonised in 1764 by the French, but the British quickly took over in 1765.

Nesting Black Brow Alabatross
Saunders Island

Black Brow Alabatross are very common around the sub-Antarctic islands, and nest on steep rocky cliffs. As we were not allowed to get to close to these magnificent birds (for obvious reasons!), no photograph can begin to do justice to how BIG these birds are! The adult in this photograph was probably easily about 60cm high just sitting on the nest...

When the Argentineans invaded the Falklands in 1982, they surrounded the town of Stanely with land mines. To this day, many of the mines are still in the ground. Unfortunately, they are 'personal' land mines, about the size of a soft drink can, and with hardly any metal in them, so are virtually undetectable. Over time, they gradually 'float up' through the soil, but are only exposed when larger livestock walk over them... Penguins are too light to trigger the mines.

Splash of colour
Stanely, East Falkland Island

It may be a town which blossums into life for a few brief months of the year when the cruise ships pass through, but the locals have made their town an extrememly bright and cheerful place to live. In fact, as we roamed around, battling rapidly changing weather, they assured us that as winter sets in, the temperatures may drop to close to freezing, but for the most part, they experience wonderful blue-sky days with not a breath of wind - ie more delightful conditions that when we visit!

At the local
Stanley, East Falkland Island

The Globe Tavern is the closest pub to the public docks and is thus very popular with passengers of visiting ships!