Little penguin (Eudyptula minor)
A solitary little penguin with pale under parts and dark grey-blue on the back. White feet, very short but streamlined wings. About 43 cm long.
Seen at the bottom of a huge gorge (40 metres down) in a very large cave still well above the level of the ocean though.
Being the middle of the day this little bird should have been elsewhere but it seemed determined to head for the sea.
The path to the water was incredibly difficult for a small walking bird but the cave area looked very safe from foxes, dogs or cats.
Right at the limits of my old zoom unfortunately.
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of 33 cm in height and 43 cm in length, is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.
