Española Island
The waves were hitting the National Geographic Islander from starboard overnight while navigating from Floreana to Española Islands, but an hour before dropping the anchor at our destination, things turned very smooth. Pretty soon the team of kayakers was ready and waiting for their time to come. The pre-breakfast kayaking along the coast of Gardner Islet was rewarding. There were some birds standing along the shoreline and many were actively fishing. The sea lions were playful and the smooth waves gave the paddlers a gentle push that put some sea spray on their faces. We were all alive, living the moment!
After breakfast some went snorkeling while other took a visit and a stroll along the white sandy beach, cobblestoned by sea lions. The Hood mockingbirds were ferociously ramming onto the flies and eating them. That was seen as a very good sign by all us bystanders even though we all understood the fly is important too. Nevertheless we couldn’t conceal our satisfaction being there and enjoying the commonwealth of both visitors and mockingbirds. The sea lions also did their part on us. Even when not moving but just laying there, they caught our hearts once again.
Not much is left for seeing after this week, yet we are expectant for today in the afternoon to have at least a casual encounter with the waved albatrosses. The time is close when these birds will go to follow their food far from the Galápagos environments. We know this happens every year and marks one of the paramount behaviors of birds in oceanic islands, but it still causes some sadness to know that in less than a month these magnificent birds will be absent for awhile.
As the day ends our minds start to fly back to the places we visited and to the memories these places have created in us. As a naturalist I feel satisfied for the labor done, but moreover for the certainty that it is not only mine, that these islands will still remain for several generations to come for them to admire and learn about life.
