Carcass Island

Carcass Island sits off the north-western tip of West Falkland. It is named for HMS Carcass, a Royal Navy ship that called here in 1766, and despite the gruesome sounding moniker it is a great place for birdwatching. The magellanic and gentoo penguins are the big draw here, congregating on the island's wide sandy bays.

Like many islands in the Falklands, Carcass Island is privately owned, the current owners having been in residence since mid-1970s. Thankfully, they have kept the island free of both rats and cats, which means that many songbird species absent elsewhere tend to thrive here.

There is a small settlement at Port Pattison and if there is time during a visit, cruise groups are sometimes hosted in the farmhouse for a tremendous spread of tea and home-made cakes. Aside from tourism, sheep farming remains an important part of life on the island.

Magellanic penguins and gentoo penguins are both resident on Carcass Island and can be seen at Dyke Beach and Leopard Beach on the southern end of the island where landings are made. The magellanic penguins nest in burrows on the edge of the beaches – they tend to be seen more early in the morning and later in the day. Gentoos nest in the tussac grass above the two beaches. The beaches are also particularly good for spotting Falkland steamer ducks and magellanic oystercatchers. 

Carcass Island's rat- and cat-free status means you have a good chance of spotting species absent elsewhere like the tiny endemic Cobb's wren. The species was first recorded for science here in 1908. The Falkland grass wren is also found here. Other songbirds to look out for include the tussacbird, dark-faced ground tyrant, Falkland pipit, Falkland thrush and long-tailed meadowlark (known as the 'military starling; for the male's red breast).

Striated caracara can often be seen perching on the fence posts between the beaches and the settlement; ruddy-headed geese are also common on the island.