Bleaker Island

Bleaker Island is a thin rugged noodle of an island that stretches for nine rocky miles off the south-east coast of East Falkland. It was called Long Island when Charles Darwin came here in 1834 during his Beagle voyage, then Breaker Island for the great waves that crash onto its beaches, which slowly changed into its present name.

The island is dedicated to organic sustainable agriculture, with its excellent pasture providing fodder for both sheep and cows.  The island is a haven for penguins, with four species here dominated by gentoos. The northern part of the island is a dedicated National Nature Reserve, and the island as a whole is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. 

The first bird most visitors encounter on landing at Bleaker Island is the gentoo penguin. Around 2000 pairs nest here on the appropriately named Penguin Hill above the beach at Sandy Bay. Magellanic penguin burrows are also well-represented, with Falkland skuas another species nesting in the tussac grass.

A rockhopper penguin colony of around 750 pairs of birds clings to the steep slopes at Long Gulch. Nearby is the even more impressive king shag colony, 8000 pairs strong.

Between Sandy Bay and Long Gulch is Big Pond, which is well-stocked with water birds. Flying steamer ducks, Chiloé wigeon, white-tufted grebes, speckled and silver teal and black-necked swans are all regularly sighted here. As elsewhere on the islands, ruddy-headed geese are a common sight. 

The rocks at Pebbly Bay below the rockhopper colony at Long Gulch can be a good place to spot southern sealions. It's a popular haul out spot for the species, although they do not breed here.