Bertha's Beach Important Bird Area - Falkland Islands
S 51° 53.930 W 058° 23.710
21F E 404007 N 4249294
Bertha's Beach Important Bird Area comprises 3300 ha of coastal wetlands on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA)
Waymark Code: WMK3KR
Location: Falkland Islands
Date Posted: 02/08/2014
Views: 10
Bertha's Beach is a beautiful, white sand beach with abundant bird and marine life, just 10 minutes drive from the Mount Pleasant Complex. The site also offers plenty of opportunity for hiking, photography and picnicking. Gentoo penguins are present year-round and dolphins are a regular feature at the beach, often coming close to shore as they hunt in the shallows.
Contact Fitzroy Farm (+500 32384) for permission to visit Bertha's Beach.
Travelling time from Stanley approx 1 hour.
Access: By road. Suitable for 4WD vehicles (self drive or hire a guide ). For access details, visitors and residents should contact the Fitzroy Farm Manager, military personnel can also contact the Joint Education Centre inside MPA (+500 76205).
The Coordinates given are for the "parking" area near the gate past which vehicles are not allowed.
This is an Internationally recognised site for Birdwatching
A recommended factsheet can be found at
(
visit link)
Birds for which the site is of conservation significance include breeding Falkland Steamer Ducks, Ruddy-headed Geese, Gentoo Penguins (500 pairs), Magellanic Penguins and White-bridled Finches, as well as migratory White-rumped Sandpipers (15,000 individuals). The ponds behind the beach and dunes support many waterbirds including Black-necked Swans, Chiloe Wigeons, Patagonian Crested Ducks, Flying Steamer Ducks, Yellow-billed Pintails, Silver and Yellow-billed Teals, and Silvery and White-tufted Grebes.