Punta Tombo is a Magellanic Penguin colony on the Atlantic coast of Chubut province. The Penguines are tame; being protected they have no need to fear humans. Hence the abundance of closeup shots.
Things are spread out a lot in Patagonia. The other-worldly landscape of basalt pebbles and Jura bushes goes on for ever. We drive in a minibus on gravel roads for up to three hours at a time to reach particular wildlife reserves.
On this occasion, one of our rewards is a visit to a lesser known and technically not protected Elephant Seal colony, which allows us to get pretty close to the animals.
Something that is worth noting about wildlife observation and nature in general is, of course, that it involves all of your senses. Seal colonies stink. And in the middle of the afternoon, sleeping in the sun, they are covered in flies. Usually, for me at any rate, such issues are cancelled by the sheer wonder of being in the presence of these amazing beasts. But every now and then you check yourself and wonder why you have gone to such trouble for what is, in practical terms, quite an unpleasant experience!
Oh and on the way we pass a life-size brontosaurus which Ann quite likes.
