Española Island
Calm ocean, soft breeze, nice air temperature. Facing Gardner Bay on the northern side of the Island of Española, gives our breakfast a special touch. Soon we are ready to begin the adventures of the last full day of this trip.
And so an adventure we had! Half of the group went snorkeling and the naturalists were very happy hearing everybody calling fish by their correct name. We also had two shifts of kayaking. The kayaking this morning was really exceptional! The conditions were extremely pleasant and for a while we were escorted by a bull sea lion that seemed to be remembering his days as a “kid,” jumping and turning very, very fast.
On the white beach later on the morning, we walked among dozens of sea lions who were, as usual, totally oblivious to our presence. In the vicinity the Hood mockingbirds were displaying, apparently beginning their courtship. We swam, walked, paddled - so what else?
Lunchtime came too soon, but we never regret a meal, considering that after the food comes a short but deserved “siesta”, after which a documentary video was shown.
In the afternoon we all are excited as we head out to search for the endemic waved albatrosses. We found several of these magnificent sea birds sitting on their eggs and incubating. There were some eighty individuals on the ground near the trail. Noisy as they could be, they can’t compete however with the red billed tropic birds that pass above us, flying over our heads.
At the end of the trail, the blow hole was spouting spray high above the cliffs with the rising tide. While we were admiring the scenery, two Galápagos hawks were watching us; and every small bird in the area also watched the flying hawks. It felt like all us creatures had agreed to see the world as we do, through “the eye of Lindblad.” Cheers and buen viaje.
Calm ocean, soft breeze, nice air temperature. Facing Gardner Bay on the northern side of the Island of Española, gives our breakfast a special touch. Soon we are ready to begin the adventures of the last full day of this trip.
And so an adventure we had! Half of the group went snorkeling and the naturalists were very happy hearing everybody calling fish by their correct name. We also had two shifts of kayaking. The kayaking this morning was really exceptional! The conditions were extremely pleasant and for a while we were escorted by a bull sea lion that seemed to be remembering his days as a “kid,” jumping and turning very, very fast.
On the white beach later on the morning, we walked among dozens of sea lions who were, as usual, totally oblivious to our presence. In the vicinity the Hood mockingbirds were displaying, apparently beginning their courtship. We swam, walked, paddled - so what else?
Lunchtime came too soon, but we never regret a meal, considering that after the food comes a short but deserved “siesta”, after which a documentary video was shown.
In the afternoon we all are excited as we head out to search for the endemic waved albatrosses. We found several of these magnificent sea birds sitting on their eggs and incubating. There were some eighty individuals on the ground near the trail. Noisy as they could be, they can’t compete however with the red billed tropic birds that pass above us, flying over our heads.
At the end of the trail, the blow hole was spouting spray high above the cliffs with the rising tide. While we were admiring the scenery, two Galápagos hawks were watching us; and every small bird in the area also watched the flying hawks. It felt like all us creatures had agreed to see the world as we do, through “the eye of Lindblad.” Cheers and buen viaje.
