Fernandina and Isabela Islands
We saw all kinds of wildlife today! This morning’s walk along the black lava coast of one of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world was one of the highlights of what has been an absolutely fantastic week. Fernandina is a relatively young island – only a few hundred thousand years old – and from a distance it is hard to believe it harbors much wildlife. But the shores that appear to be barren are home to some of the most interesting animals found in Galapagos. Hoards of marine iguanas, curious and playful sea lions, brilliant red sally light foot crabs, tiny Galapagos penguins and the odd but unique flightless cormorants were all seen and photographed during both the walk and the Zodiac rides.
Common dolphins leapt and splashed and raced along side our ship just before dawn and again while we ate lunch in the afternoon. There were thousands of them moving with such beauty and grace that we felt privileged indeed to witness their exuberant performance. Twice we spied whale spouts, but by the time everyone had gathered on deck the elusive marine mammals had disappeared into the depths.
Some of the weirdest wildlife seen today was found in the lounge during cocktail hour. The Baroness of Floreana, escorted by her three lovers, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, a hybrid masked/blue-footed booby, a female magnificent frigate with an inflated gular pouch, a green iguana, 2 endemic seastars, a witch, Pebbles Flintstone, a pair of Adaptive Brits, an imitation Rafael …these are some of the strange and wonderful creatures that attended our Halloween Party. We had an iguana blood cocktail to appease King Neptune and his two fierce pirates and sailed on into the night.
We saw all kinds of wildlife today! This morning’s walk along the black lava coast of one of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world was one of the highlights of what has been an absolutely fantastic week. Fernandina is a relatively young island – only a few hundred thousand years old – and from a distance it is hard to believe it harbors much wildlife. But the shores that appear to be barren are home to some of the most interesting animals found in Galapagos. Hoards of marine iguanas, curious and playful sea lions, brilliant red sally light foot crabs, tiny Galapagos penguins and the odd but unique flightless cormorants were all seen and photographed during both the walk and the Zodiac rides.
Common dolphins leapt and splashed and raced along side our ship just before dawn and again while we ate lunch in the afternoon. There were thousands of them moving with such beauty and grace that we felt privileged indeed to witness their exuberant performance. Twice we spied whale spouts, but by the time everyone had gathered on deck the elusive marine mammals had disappeared into the depths.
Some of the weirdest wildlife seen today was found in the lounge during cocktail hour. The Baroness of Floreana, escorted by her three lovers, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, a hybrid masked/blue-footed booby, a female magnificent frigate with an inflated gular pouch, a green iguana, 2 endemic seastars, a witch, Pebbles Flintstone, a pair of Adaptive Brits, an imitation Rafael …these are some of the strange and wonderful creatures that attended our Halloween Party. We had an iguana blood cocktail to appease King Neptune and his two fierce pirates and sailed on into the night.
