Over a glass of champagne my sister suggested I photograph some photos from our island experience with the penguins in 2002 (before digital!) So I have actually taken a photo today!
The story: Council asked for people to sleep on the island to protect the equipment for the boardwalk they were building over there and count how many penguins came in. A tent was set up for us. We walked, knee deep in waders over to the island in the evening. Of course we set ourselves up very well with tablecloth, wine, chocolate, music etc. Then all of a sudden the penguins started coming in and walked all over our tablecloth! We couldn't believe it (and of course forgot to count them!) They weren't intimidated by us at all. We had so much fun photographing them and as you can see, we got very close. The next morning we clambered down off the island and the crossing back to the mainland was extremely slim. So now you can see why I love penguins :)
@hermann@karlow75@lynnilou@tellefella@denisedaly@bella_ss Thanks all so much for taking the time to read this. It was one of the best experiences I ever had we actually got to do it twice the second night a lot colder so the penguins didn't hang around as much. Unfortunately the island is closed to people now so I will never be able to do something like that again. @bella_ss It is called Middle Island and is only about 4 acres in size and is part of Sting Ray bay where the Merri river also enters the sea - all here in Warrnambool. It's the area where I take a lot of my photos :)
Oh, I am just giddy as I read this and look at your pictures! What an experience. The penguins are so comfortable with you. You could have reached out to touch them. Two questions: What kind of penguins are they? Why is the island closed? Denise, you called me lucky. Ha! Looks like you're the lucky one too. Oh, nice collage too. Easy fav.
These are a wonderful capture of the experience. Takes me back to a trip to Phillip Island about 10 years ago with my Mum and the kids - we were enchanted with the penguins :-)
@darthkitty@mjalkotzy@macromover Thanks for great comments. it was a pleasure to be able to share this happy memory :) @mbemis Thanks Mannie. yes it was an amazing experience! The peguins are called Little Penguins or Fairy Penguins (although they sre dropping this name) The council say the island was closed to protect the penguins - but they built the walkway on the island to keep people off the dunes! However the year they closed it, some tourists tried to get to the smaller island beside it which is exposed to the southern ocean. Of course it was a terrible day the sea wild and 3 people drowned. Very sad story, but they just should not have been out there. Consequently they closed both islands to the public. @macromover@sheilag@seattlite@rosiekind@janiskay Thanks all for reading and commenting on my penguin experience. It's hard to believe it was 12 years ago - still such a vivid memory :) @milaniet We were in shock too that the enguins came up to us so close :) @essafel Yes, same type of penguins at Philip Island - but you can't get close and not allowed to take photos - we had our own private interlude :) @leanne333 It's my pleasure being able to share :) @paulaw Yes Paula, we were a bit excited about crossing over to our adventure - and it was even better than expected :)
What an amazing and unforgettable experience you had with these precious penguins! I got a laugh at the image of them walking right over your tablecloth. Guess they were inviting themselves to join in on the fun.
@mbemis Thanks Mannie. yes it was an amazing experience! The peguins are called Little Penguins or Fairy Penguins (although they sre dropping this name) The council say the island was closed to protect the penguins - but they built the walkway on the island to keep people off the dunes! However the year they closed it, some tourists tried to get to the smaller island beside it which is exposed to the southern ocean. Of course it was a terrible day the sea wild and 3 people drowned. Very sad story, but they just should not have been out there. Consequently they closed both islands to the public.
@macromover @sheilag @seattlite @rosiekind @janiskay Thanks all for reading and commenting on my penguin experience. It's hard to believe it was 12 years ago - still such a vivid memory :)
@milaniet We were in shock too that the enguins came up to us so close :)
@essafel Yes, same type of penguins at Philip Island - but you can't get close and not allowed to take photos - we had our own private interlude :)
@leanne333 It's my pleasure being able to share :)
@paulaw Yes Paula, we were a bit excited about crossing over to our adventure - and it was even better than expected :)