Porpoising penguin - David Tipling - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007 Animal Behaviour: Birds - Highly Commended

David Tipling Click to enlarge Porpoising penguin

David Tipling (United Kingdom)

Porpoising penguin

'It was a particularly dull day for a sail. The sea became choppy, so I went below deck. But in Antarctica, the weather can change quickly. Ten minutes later, the sea was smooth as a mirror. I ran back up, in time to see this Adélie penguin leaping across the bow. I managed one good frame before the penguin disappeared and a breeze ruffled the water.' There are five species of penguin in Antarctica: emperor, king, chinstrap, Adélie and macaroni. Adélies are the smallest and spend most of the winter offshore feeding. They often lay two eggs, vulnerable to birds such as skuas, but usually only one survives. Once hatched, their chicks are the fastest-growing species of any penguin.

Nikon D2X + Nikon 300mm f2.8 lens; 1/1000 sec at f5.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.