The Gentoos generally exhibit a great disinterest in humans, but will approach you if sit quietly; just don't stand up suddenly as you will startle them - remember, there are no rapidly growing objects in Antarctica!

Furry chick
Brown Bluff

This fully grown chick is just about ready to moult and within the next week or two, been left to fend itself as its parents went off to fill their bellies before moulting themselves.

Lack of coordination
Waterboat Point

Before they reach their full adult height, the Gentoo chicks are the most boneless creatures ever encountered... Somehow exchanging the down for feathers turns them into sturdy penguins.

Proud parent
Cuverville Island

A beautiful day and I had scrambled up above a Gentoo rookery where the Gentoos were lazily drinking in the sunshine. For the most part, they were quite content, but when a Skua circled overhead, looking for a meal, they would erupt into a loud chorus of honking and the parents would bend over their resting chicks.

Underwater
Jougla Point

Awkward on land, but I can asure you, in the water, the penguins are all grace and power. This one swam curious circles around me for several minutes as I stood knee deep in water (I love gum boots!)

Blonde Penguin
Cuverville Island

Perhaps because it was a good year for the Gentoo penguins, we saw about three blonde (leucestic) penguins this year, one at Cuverville Island and two at Waterboat Point. Although this colour is not the most advantageous camouflage in the water, there is no reason these birds couldn't survive. The two blonde chicks at Waterboat Point where born of two black and white penguins.

Another proud parent
Golden Harbour, South Georgia

Making up for a bad, high sea ice year last year, many Gentoo's were successfully raising two chicks this year.