Emperor Penguins!!

There's a group of Emperor penguins who have camped out near the road to the runway. Some of them are molting, but otherwise they just appear to be hanging out. Here are some photos I took last Tuesday when I went out to see them.

Approaching the penguins. We were only allowed to get as close as 25 feet to them, although if a penguin came up to us, that would be okay. Unfortunately,  none of them did.

The one in the middle is molting the most, and he looks like a big poof-ball.

Me and the penguins. Castle Rock can be seen behind me on the left.

Penguins amidst lots of penguin poop! Mmmm...

Three penguins with Ob Hill in the background.

They're so cute when they flap their wings!

Tweedledee and Tweedledum?

The molting penguin decided it was time to lay down.

This penguin is scratching under his left wing with his beak, even though it may look as if he's headless. :)

I'm so happy to see penguins!!

This week, the ship has arrived with most of the supplies for the next year. Everyone is working like crazy to get everything off the ship and delivered to the proper department. Then all the trash from the last year at McMurdo Station will be loaded onto the ship to be taken back to the US for disposal. Once that's done, the summer season will be over and everyone not staying for winter (and that's mostly everyone) will be headed home. Only two more weeks of 24-hour sunlight! Sunsets will be back!