To celebrate the Fourth of July, we explored the islands of North Seymour and Rabida looking for colors of the American flag. A blue-footed booby, a magnificent frigatebird with its red inflated pouch, and their chicks with white down plumage. These two islands may be small, but they are teeming with life. Early in the morning, we start our activities with a hike to encounter animals that everybody is longing to see!
5/28/2023
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Española Island
Today was an amazing day on Española Island, one of the oldest and most diverse islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We started our expedition in the morning at Gardner Bay, where we enjoyed the white coralline beach and the company of friendly sea lions. We also snorkeled in the surrounding water and saw reef fish, sea turtles, rays and of course, the playful young Galapagos sea lions. After a delicious lunch on board, we headed to Punta Suarez, where we hiked along the rocky shore and observed many endemic species, such as the waved albatross, Española mockingbird, marine iguana, and Española lava lizard. We were especially lucky to witness the courtship dance of the waved albatross, which was very impressive and amusing. They clacked their beaks, bowed their heads, and bellowed a mating call in a synchronized manner. We also admired the local blowhole, where seawater is forced through a fissure, creating a spectacular spray. We ended our day as light rain fell upon this “world unto itself.”
