Southern Isabela Island
We found a pod of feeding bottle-nose dolphins early this morning and the day was off to a good start! The long hikers disembarked first and began their 3 mile walk along the shoreline, over a pile of lava boulders and then following an inland trail. Those interested in a shorter hike version disembarked slightly later and followed the final leg of the inland loop of the trail out and back for a mile long walk. Both groups found evidence of the uplift of this shoreline in 1954; there were a few coral heads that are high, dry and disintegrating, we could see marine tube worm cases still glued to the exposed rocks along the trail and we found the original beach about a half mile inland.
We were delighted also to unexpectedly discover a few giant tortoises this morning. Urbina Bay is at the base of Volcan Alcedo where there is a large and healthy wild population of tortoises and several individuals had wandered down from the summit in search of food in the dry forest along the coast. Large, colorful land iguanas were seen resting in the sun in front of their deep underground burrows. They sat still as our cameras clicked. One iguana was six feet off the ground, climbing around in a Cordia tree and feeding on the yellow blossoms and white fruits.
Back at the beach we enjoyed a refreshing swim and floated in the surf accompanied by several sea turtles and a leaping eagle ray. Those who wished to get out of the sun returned to the ship, but the beach bums and babes among us took the last panga home at noon.
Following a Peruvian lunch, siesta and my presentation on Charles Darwin, a group of “lava hikers” set off with Daniel to search for three brackish lagoons in the expansive lava fields. They were surprised to find four brilliant pink flamingos in the lagoons. We all took a Zodiac ride (the hikers had a slightly abbreviated one before and after their walk) among the mangrove pools. Three species of rays were observed: spotted eagle rays, a huge marbled sting ray and golden rays. Sea turtles surfaced beside us and we ended the day at a white-washed shelf where a couple dozen enormous marine iguanas and a hand full of sea lions were resting. As we motored back to the ship we passed small groups of penguins headed to shore after an afternoon of fishing at sea. Blue-footed boobies and noddy terns were roosting on the rocks and the sun set, an orange ball of fire, behind the curve of the earth.
We found a pod of feeding bottle-nose dolphins early this morning and the day was off to a good start! The long hikers disembarked first and began their 3 mile walk along the shoreline, over a pile of lava boulders and then following an inland trail. Those interested in a shorter hike version disembarked slightly later and followed the final leg of the inland loop of the trail out and back for a mile long walk. Both groups found evidence of the uplift of this shoreline in 1954; there were a few coral heads that are high, dry and disintegrating, we could see marine tube worm cases still glued to the exposed rocks along the trail and we found the original beach about a half mile inland.
We were delighted also to unexpectedly discover a few giant tortoises this morning. Urbina Bay is at the base of Volcan Alcedo where there is a large and healthy wild population of tortoises and several individuals had wandered down from the summit in search of food in the dry forest along the coast. Large, colorful land iguanas were seen resting in the sun in front of their deep underground burrows. They sat still as our cameras clicked. One iguana was six feet off the ground, climbing around in a Cordia tree and feeding on the yellow blossoms and white fruits.
Back at the beach we enjoyed a refreshing swim and floated in the surf accompanied by several sea turtles and a leaping eagle ray. Those who wished to get out of the sun returned to the ship, but the beach bums and babes among us took the last panga home at noon.
Following a Peruvian lunch, siesta and my presentation on Charles Darwin, a group of “lava hikers” set off with Daniel to search for three brackish lagoons in the expansive lava fields. They were surprised to find four brilliant pink flamingos in the lagoons. We all took a Zodiac ride (the hikers had a slightly abbreviated one before and after their walk) among the mangrove pools. Three species of rays were observed: spotted eagle rays, a huge marbled sting ray and golden rays. Sea turtles surfaced beside us and we ended the day at a white-washed shelf where a couple dozen enormous marine iguanas and a hand full of sea lions were resting. As we motored back to the ship we passed small groups of penguins headed to shore after an afternoon of fishing at sea. Blue-footed boobies and noddy terns were roosting on the rocks and the sun set, an orange ball of fire, behind the curve of the earth.
