Española Island.

Nov 18, 2018 - National Geographic Endeavour II

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The endemic Española mockingbird was fearless, brazen and audacious. This one hopped around our feet, over our backpacks, checking out water bottles for condensation, checking out lenses for possible reflections. An amazing experience for anyone who has never “ecological naiveté” first-hand.

Today was our first full day of exploration in the islands! A short journey, all things considered, from the island of arrival, San Cristobal. The morning started off well, with many of our guests getting wet—some doing the full immersion into 71-degree water for deep-water snorkeling, others learning, practicing off the beach first. Galapagos sea lions were the stars of the day, both morning and afternoon, in the water and out.

But seabirds were everywhere, overhead; Nazca boobies waved albatross, Frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds. Then there were the land birds, some endemic to the island of Espanola, off in the southeastern corner of the archipelago. Reptiles as well! Endemics! Unique to just this one little island in all the world. How fortunate we are to be here, in the moment.

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About the Author

Cindy Manning

Expedition Leader

Born in Lima, Peru, of North American parents, Cindy and her family subsequently lived in several South American and European countries with a couple stops in Peoria, Illinois. Cindy received a degree in biology from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. Afterwards, Cindy spent a year and a half teaching science in the Western Province of Kenya, East Africa.

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