South Georgia Voyage Notes – 7:  I was attacked by a Sheathbill!

On every single landing, there was one species that was largely ignored by all of us photographers and that was this  snow white, often scruffy sometimes even mangy looking bird with a pale pink bill and was marking its pesky presence at every opportunity, several times photobombing frames  in an irritating manner!

The fact that they are fit to  be called “ Theydontgiveashitbills “ becomes amply clear from wiki’s  description of them!

“The snowy sheathbill is the only other antarctic land bird apart from the Penguins and they do not have webbed feet. It finds its food on the land. It is an omnivore, a scavenger, and a kleptoparasite. It steals krill and fish from penguins and sometimes eats their eggs and down-covered chicks. It also eats carrion, animal feces, and, where available, human waste. It has been known to eat tapeworms that have been living in a chinstrap penguin‘s intestine”

After a few landings, Varun suggested that I should have a closer look at these birds as he found them super interesting which I did. These  busybodies revealed what opportunists they were, looking for quick easy sources of food and looked for potential in my tripod and boots also, as one  tried hard to crack it open!  A gentle admonishment from me and he moved away!   Captured this partly on slo-mo on my phone and presented here: