Melany Wilson Photography

Elephant seal pup enjoying the soft rocks

This elephant seal weaner is only a few months old and has just been weaned from his mother. The high fatty milk from his mom will give him enough fat reserves for the summer to survive until it is time to swim out to sea and eat squid, their predominant food source. Elephant seals normally dive to around 1000-2000 feet but have been known to dive as deep as 5,000 feet.

Chinstrap Penguins enjoying the sunshine

Livingston Island

Gentoo penguin feeding chick

Moonlight over basecamp

Elephant seals basking in the sunshine

Medio Luna beach

Molting with a bad hair day

This Antarctic Fur Seal pup is starting his molting process at three months old. This process allows the pup to shed the puppy fur and grow a coat that will be more conducive to swimming and growing.

Young Gentoo penguin growing strong

Snow storm on the penguin colony

Looking out at the steep, volcanic cliffs on Livingston Island.

Antarctic terns

Antarctic terns migrate up to 25,000 miles each year. This is by far the longest regular migration by any known animal.

Strong ocean currents from fierce winds rock the seas.

The bathymetry around Livingston Island is very unique in that there are very shallow reefs for hundreds of meters off the coast.

Chinstrap Penguin feeding chicks

These chicks are nearly a month old and extremely vulnerable to predation by other birds.

Elephant seal pup resting on the beach

Chinstrap Penguins enjoying the fresh snow.

Molting Chinstrap penguin

Chinstrap penguins enjoying the snowfall

Antarctic fur seal sleeping restfully during a snow storm

Life as a Chinstrap penguin upside down

Molting elephant seal pup

This molting stage appears to be itchy and uncomfortable for the elephant seals as they hang out on land and slowly lose their old coat.

Self portrait on the remote west coast of Livingston Island

Gentoo penguins enjoying the late sun in January.

Female Chinstrap penguin protecting her chicks from Skuas and other predators in the area.

Cape Petrels in flight searching for food.

Gentoo penguins methodically choosing rocks for the perfect nest.

The Gentoo penguins are very deliberate and methodical with their rock collection tactics in order to build a seemingly perfect nest for the incubation period for the egg.

Gentoo chicks snuggling close to maintain heat during a severe snow storm.

Leopard seal looking for a snack.

These fur seals puppies have become a major food source for leopard seals on Livingston Island over the past decade. While the pups are very small and learning to swim, the are easy targets for the giant leopard seals.

Chinstrap chick covered in penguin feces.

A poised fur seal pup at 2 months old.

Skua looking for food in the penguin colony.

Skuas are a major predator for the penguin chicks when they are small and vulnerable. The adults very work 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of their chicks against predatory birds.

A very dignified looking Chinstrap penguin after a nice swim.

Cape Petrel in flight

Elephant seal pup only a few months old checking out the world.