The settlement. That is what they call the home and associated outbuildings on the isolated outer islands of the Falkland Archipelago. Usually, there is one family per island. The weather is generally windy, often overcast. There are no trees except for those that are planted around the structures, providing a bit of protection, some calm. The closest neighbors are penguins, steamer ducks, caracaras and a few sheep.
Carcass Island is owned by Rob and Lorraine McGill. After a long and lovely walk over dunes, past Magellanic penguin colonies, alongside ponds and through vegetation uniquely adapted to constant wind, we arrived at the settlement. There, we found the unexpected. A table piled seemingly beyond the angle of repose with cookies, cakes and breads. Tea, coffee, cocoa, and the warmest of greetings. Speaking with Lorraine and Rob gave us a different view of the world from any that is available in newspapers or magazines. Warm, friendly, welcoming, open.
The cypress trees surrounding the settlement don't belong there in a natural sense. They were introduced decades ago. Yet black-crowned night-herons have found the trees to be a fine place to roost, nest and raise their young. I counted thirty-three of these birds concentrated around Rob and Lorraine's home
