This Summer stamp issue is the first in a series of 4 issues under the theme of "Seasons". Officially, the Falklands summer months are December, January, and February. With the longest hours of daylight and the warmest weather, it is the peak time for wildlife viewing. Sea birds and the 5 breeding penguin species are well settled in to their large noisy colonies, which by now are bursting with chicks.
The average summer temperatures are 14°-15°, but if the sun is shining and the wind drops, temperatures can reach around 25°. Weather conditions can be very changeable though. One moment it can be warm and sunny, with dark imposing skies the next.
The summer months are the busiest for the tourist industry. Cruise ships are in most days, and land-based tourists are always arriving via the UK and Chile flight routes. Many of these tourists travel to the Falkland Islands in the summer to see the abundant wildlife, particularly the penguins.
38p Falkland Lavender (Perezia recurvata). Found on East and West Falklands, the Falkland Lavender plant flowers throughout December and January. It has no scent, so the name likely comes from the colour of the flower, which may be any shade from lilac to blue to white. It is a native perennial sub-shrub which forms woody-stemmed mats up to 30cm high. Its dark green leaves are curved and spiky. The flower is daisy-shaped with long narrow petals. It grows in rocky and sandy areas, often alongside diddle-dee heath and near the coastline.
86p Queen of the Falklands Fritillary Butterfly (Yramea cytheris). Most commonly seen in January, this beautiful and fast-flying insect is the only breeding species of butterfly in the Falkland Islands. It is medium-sized and orange in colour, with small black spots and a white streak near the upper tips of the wings. The wingspan is 32mm. Butterfly numbers are boosted in good years, when it is warm and dry. Very few are seen in cold, wet summers. Its lifespan on the wing is estimated to be around 5 or 6 days. These butterflies often feed on the nectar of the Falkland Lavender flower. The native yellow violet is the most likely food of its caterpillars, with eggs being laid on the yellow violet leaves.
£1.18 King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Every summer, tourists flock to Volunteer Point on East Falkland, where the vast majority of the Island's king penguins are found. With their striking orange cheeks and vibrant chest colours, the kings are the largest species of penguin found in the Falklands. With over 1500 pairs, the Falkland Islands are the most northern edge of the global range of this species.
The king penguin stands at 70 to 100cm tall, and weighs in at 10 to 16 kg, with males being slightly larger than females. They dive up to 300m for their food, catching squid and small fish, particularly lantern fish. They have the longest breeding cycle of all the penguin species, lasting 14 to 16 months. They do not make nests, instead both parents take turns incubating a single egg on their feet. Juvenile kings are brown and fluffy.
£1.52 Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina). Elephant seals can be seen throughout the summer, with the largest population (over 2000) on Sea Lion Island. They are the biggest species of seal. Males are enormous, weighing up to 4 tonnes and measuring 14 to 19 ft in length. They are easily identified by their large trunk-like nose, which can produce very load roars. Females by comparison are much smaller, weighing less than a tonne and measuring only 8 to 9.8 ft.
In the summer months most of the pups have been weaned, and remain ashore without feeding, relying on their fat reserves. Pups group together for up to two months, learning survival skills from each other on the beach or in small pools of water. When their fat reserves have been depleted, they go out to sea for the first time in search of food.
Elephant seals are capable of holding their breath for 2 hours and diving as deep as 2000 metres, preying mainly on squid and fish.
About the Artist
Local artist Louise Clarke, originally from Northern Ireland, has been living in the Falkland Islands since 2013. She specialises in highly detailed and life-like coloured pencil drawings of animals. Her original drawings and personal commissions of wildlife and pets sell locally and internationally.
High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -
