Day 1. March 5, 2006
On boat and on Santa Cruz Island
The Floreana
This is our boat, the Floreana, a 16 passenger yacht with a crew of 6. The small oval windows are the portholes of the cramped, stuffy cabins where we tried to…
Magnificent? Frigatebird Juvenile on Hoist Santa Cruz Island
This is a close-up of a juvenile frigatebird on the hoist, which bears signs of extensive previous use. This photo was taken while lying on a lounge chair on…
Frigatebird in Flight
Here is a frigatebird in flight. The photo was taken while the boat was moving and the bird was keeping formation with it.
Bachas Beach Santa Cruz Island
This is a wide angle view of Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island as seen from our boat, showing scrubby desert vegetation and mountains in the background. The…
Vegetation Santa Cruz Island
Here is a closer view of some of the desert vegetation on Bachas Beach as seen onshore.
Galpagos Pricklypear (Opuntia galapageia) Santa Cruz Island
This is a close-up of one of the tree cacti. I am told that the thorns are soft and harmless, but I didn't put that claim to the test. Species page at…
Brown Pelican on Lava Santa Cruz Island
I thought this shot of a breeding plumage brown pelican resting on lava with sally lightfoot crabs in the background was very picturesque and postcard-like.
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) Santa Cruz Island
Here is a closer view of one of the ubiquitous sally lightfoots. Although they were usually seen on wet rocks near the water, they breathe air and are…
Blue-footed Booby Flying Santa Cruz Island
This was one of our first views of a blue-footed booby. They are very common in the Galapagos.
Lava Gull Santa Cruz Island
The lava gull, a Galapagos endemic, is very dark in color, like so many of the creatures adapted to life in this lava-strewn environment. It is considered to be…
Lava Gull Santa Cruz Island
This is another view of the same lava gull.
Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) Santa Cruz Island
This was one of our first marine iguanas, another Galapagos endemic. It is the only lizard adapted for life in the ocean. Although they are harmless…
Sea Turtle Track Santa Cruz Island
This track looks like it was made by a vehicle with treads, but it is actually the track of a female sea turtle which returned to the sea after laying her eggs…
Yellow Warbler Female Santa Cruz Island
This is a female yellow warbler. The yellow warbler found in the Galapagos is considered to be the same species as the North American yellow warbler, but it…
Day 2. March 6, 2006
On Boat and on North Seymour Island
Galapagos Dawn
North Seymour island is on the left, and Baltra Island is on the right. There were a number of tour boats anchored in addition to ours. Map
Brown Pelican Swimming
This brown pelican was resting on the very clear water near the boat.
Brown Pelican Flying
This brown pelican was flying along in formation with our boat while it was moving between the islands. It may have been draughting; that is, it was using the…
Galapagos Sealion Female and Pup North Seymour Island
This female sealion and her pup were taking a siesta. Sealions were everywhere and completely unafraid of humans. They didn't get out of the way, so you had to…
