Española Island
Guests that chose to kayak before breakfast with Naturalist Jefferson were not disappointed. They had a cool, calm morning and were escorted by sea lions as they paddled along the shore of Gardner Islet. After breakfast three Zodiacs of snorkelers returned to the Islet and, although the water was cold and so full of plankton that it was a bit murky, we had a delightful time swimming with sea lions, a shark, a well camouflaged moray eel and sting rays while observing colorful fish and the marine invertebrates that covered the steep walls.
Everyone headed next to the lovely white sand beach where we relaxed with relaxing sea lions, swam with frolicking sea lions and strolled with cheeky endemic mocking birds that reminded us of road runners as they sprinted back and forth on the beach checking everything out for something edible. The cutest sea lion pups sniffed us, and pregnant females dozed while new mothers suckled their furry babies. The beach was so lovely, the turquoise ocean so refreshing, that I really did have a difficult time coaxing the guests back to the ship for lunch.
In the afternoon we disembarked on the rocks since the landing dock at Punta Suarez was under the extreme high tide. We were greeted by more sea lions, and mocking birds (both of which were extra up close and personal-friendly with some of us today!) and red and green marine iguanas. We followed a rocky trail through nesting colonies of Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies and stopped to admire their eggs and chicks along the way. The blow hole blasted foam and spray high into the blue sky and we watched albatross and boobies glide along the cliffs.
We were thrilled to find several large juvenile albatross. They were molting their down and flapping their wings, building up their flight muscles in preparation for departure soon from the island. A lone pair of adult albatross did snatches of their courtship dance. There were flocks of finches feeding, and the warbler finches were especially plentiful. Large lava lizards - males with colorful flanks and females with red throats - hopped from rock to rock and we had to be careful to not tread upon them.
Everyone returned to the ship with a smile on his or her face. This has been a fabulous week and what we have seen and experienced has given each one of us memories that will last a lifetime. The Galápagos Islands are a magical place and we must do all we can to preserve and restore them so that future generations can enjoy them as we have.
