Fernandina Island
It has been another great day exploring the Enchanted Islands, a day that began early in the morning as we went out on deck at sunrise to enjoy a circumnavigation of the remote Roca Redonda. This vaguely circular rocky outcrop, remains of a once majestic volcano, houses large colonies of sea birds on its upper surface and steep cliffs. The waters surrounding this islet are very productive and teeming with life, a great attraction to all sorts of marine mammals. As we went round the rock today, we encountered a good-sized pod of bottlenose dolphins, maybe up to 50 or so, which delighted in bow-riding our power wave for short bursts before continuing on with their foraging. We left this incredible place behind and set our course towards the volcano bisected by the equator line: Volcan Ecuador. On our way there we had yet another spectacular encounter, this time with a pod of the picturesque common dolphin, maybe 500 or so, leaping and somersaulting all around Polaris.
In the afternoon we landed on Fernandina, which is the largest completely pristine island in the world, as well as the youngest island in the archipelago. Espinosa Point, our visitor site on the island, is a good place to see marine iguanas. This area of Galapagos has the most numerous and largest iguanas around, due to the rich waters which allow dense carpets of algae to form along the shorelines. We saw in fact large hordes of them everywhere - or is it piles? Or tangles?
Most marine iguanas are colonial for much of the year, only a few males remain outside the colonies. During the non-breeding season there is little aggression between individuals, but in the breeding season, which is now, males become more brightly colored and extremely territorial. The aggressive display used by iguanas consists in rapid head bobbing, often ending in vicious fights.
It has been another great day exploring the Enchanted Islands, a day that began early in the morning as we went out on deck at sunrise to enjoy a circumnavigation of the remote Roca Redonda. This vaguely circular rocky outcrop, remains of a once majestic volcano, houses large colonies of sea birds on its upper surface and steep cliffs. The waters surrounding this islet are very productive and teeming with life, a great attraction to all sorts of marine mammals. As we went round the rock today, we encountered a good-sized pod of bottlenose dolphins, maybe up to 50 or so, which delighted in bow-riding our power wave for short bursts before continuing on with their foraging. We left this incredible place behind and set our course towards the volcano bisected by the equator line: Volcan Ecuador. On our way there we had yet another spectacular encounter, this time with a pod of the picturesque common dolphin, maybe 500 or so, leaping and somersaulting all around Polaris.
In the afternoon we landed on Fernandina, which is the largest completely pristine island in the world, as well as the youngest island in the archipelago. Espinosa Point, our visitor site on the island, is a good place to see marine iguanas. This area of Galapagos has the most numerous and largest iguanas around, due to the rich waters which allow dense carpets of algae to form along the shorelines. We saw in fact large hordes of them everywhere - or is it piles? Or tangles?
Most marine iguanas are colonial for much of the year, only a few males remain outside the colonies. During the non-breeding season there is little aggression between individuals, but in the breeding season, which is now, males become more brightly colored and extremely territorial. The aggressive display used by iguanas consists in rapid head bobbing, often ending in vicious fights.
