Today we woke up at Punta Cormorant where we disembarked for an early pre-breakfast natural history walk on Floreana Island. Blue-footed boobies were the stars and a number of couples performed courtship rituals. We even had the chance to see a father feeding its chick. After breakfast, we went for a Zodiac ride along Champion Islet. This was a great opportunity to observe different species of sea birds such as brown noddy terns, frigatebirds and swallow-tailed gulls. We also had the chance to go for a deep-water snorkel along the shore of this islet where sea lions played around us. In the afternoon, some guests went out on kayaks and paddle boards, while others went to visit Post Office Bay, where we learned about the human history of the Galapagos. We ended the day on the shore of Post Office Bay where some guests had a chance to walk along the beach while others went for a refreshing swim.
6/4/2023
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National Geographic Endeavour II
North Seymour & Rabida Islands
We began our day with a landing on North Seymour, where we encountered hundreds of birds, mostly frigatebirds flying overhead. We followed a path that took us to a breeding site of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. We watched their mating displays in awe as nature showed us its wonderful ways. Male frigatebirds inflated their red gular sacs and stretched out their wings trying to attract a mate. Male blue-footed boobies slowing raising their cerulean feet to show a potential mate that they can fish well and support a nest. We also spotted land iguanas, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and a Galapagos racer snake along the path. We continued our navigation to Rabida Island, famous for its red sand beach, a coloration resulting from iron oxide in its volcanic soil. Those who chose to snorkel were delighted with sightings of sea turtles, sharks, Galapagos sea lions, and colorful fish. As the sun dipped into the horizon, we continued with a casual walk to a brackish pond that has a resurgent population of American flamingos, an excellent way to finish this day.