Page 195 - 2003 - Atlantic Islands

Suddenly, waddling, hopping and toddling along a muddy path of their own creation

came the piece d’resistance, the object of our trip, the holy grail we had sought – a

line of about 20 little Rockhopper Penguins! It was difficult to avoid squealing or

screaming in delight. Such adorable little fellows, they are with their wonderful face

markings and the jaunty yellow-orange feathers coming off their eye areas. It took a

few minutes to see their actual eyes since the striking yellow feathers that look like

eyebrows at a distance make the eyes appear like oriental eyes made up in an exotic

fashion. When they got a little closer, we saw that the eye itself is really red.

Of course, like their cousin penguins, they are dressed in their black and white suits

looking quite like a Fred Astaire, except that they don’t move like him at all. Their

little legs are very thick and stubby, ending in pinkish-white strong feet, a little like

chicken feet but much sturdier and equipped with some webbing. They jump quite

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