Around the World in 365ish Days: May 2009

Galapagos Snorkeling

SNORKELING IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

Whilst in the Galapagos Islands we went snorkeling every day at least once. We swam with some incredible underwater animals including Sea Lions, Turtles, Sharks, Stingrays, Penguins, lobsters and hundreds of species of fish. One of the most memorable, infact one of the most memorable moments of our lives, was playing with Sea Lions underwater. They especially liked it if we span around in the water, they would then do the same. At one point Adam was even playing catch with one using a sea cucumber it had collected from the sea floor. Whilst they give only the vaguest impression of the underwater world of the Galapagos we thought we would share these, admittedly poor quality, pictures taken with our $5 underwater cameras. We have included the species names that we know and guessed a couple of the others.

Razor Surgeon Fish

Panamic Graysby Cabrilla (maybe)

White Tip Reef Shark

King Angelfish

Another species of Angelfish

King Angelfish

Blue Starfish

Adam playing with Californian Sea Lions

Diamond Stingray

Californian Sea Lion

Azure Parrotfish

Unidentified, possibly a species of Wrasse.

Day 145 - Galapagos Islands

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DAY 8 - NORTH SEYMOUR AND BALTRA ISLANDS (26/05/09)

Once again Liz was up before sun rise, made herself and cup of tea and watched the day begin.

Our last morning turned out to be one of the best, we had an early land visit where we saw some magnificent wildlife. Despite Adam´s camera breaking for the entire visit (it is working again now) Liz still managed to take some fantastic pictures (with Adam´s help).

We were here at a great time of year. Lots of Blue Footed Booby chicks were hatching, this one was only an hour or two old.

These two were a bit older and had grown their trade mark white fluff.

This one was asking for food and finally its mother regurgitated some fish for it.

Male Magnificent Frigate birds displaying their inflatable throat pouches to attract females.

A female Frigate bird, with the white chest, choosing between these two males.

With a fully inflated pouch this male Magnificent Frigate bird is really living up to his name. Apparently is is not uncommon for a male to burst his pouch on a sharp branch, it does not do him much harm but means that he has absolutely no chance of ever mating again.

A male Frigate bird in flight with pouch inflated.

Liz and her blue booby.

A large land iguana complete with booby poo decoration.

Even after seeing a Galapagos snake (unfortunatley no pictures) he is never bored of iguanas.

Our Galapagos adventure seemingly over we were dropped off on shore with our luggage ready to catch a bus to the airport. However even the bus stops in the Galapagos are teeming with life and this large land iguana was waiting for us along with several species of birds to say goodbye.

Amazingly whilst still at the bus stop this Lava Gull landed. It is one of the rarest species of bird in the world with only an estimated 800 remaining in the wild. It seemed a fitting end to what had been probably the best trip of either of our lives.

Day 144 - Galapagos Islands

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DAY 7 - FLOREANA ISLAND (25/05/09)

Liz as usual was up at the crack of dawn. Looking over the side of the boat into the clear water she noticed dozens of turtles swimming around the boat. She ran to get her snorkeling equipment stopping only to wake Adam up for an early morning turtle swim, a fantastic start to the day.

On Floreana Island is the famous Post Office Bay. Once a legitimate way of sending post is now a tourist attraction. If you like you can leave a unstamped postcard in the box and the idea is that others that come by look through the addresses and deliver any near to them by hand when they get home. If you post one you must also take one in return.

A Brown Pelican in flight.

Every week the crew have a football match against other boat crews. The other boat this week weren´t very good, the San Jose won 10-0.

After the football match we went on a panga ride and spotted this turtle coming up for air. These turtles can stay underwater without air for up to five hours.

This large circular rock formation is known as Devil´s Crown, shortly after we came snorkeling here and saw some amazing fish including sharks.

One of the beaches on Floreana Island has a large proportion of green Olivine crystals in the sand. When the sun is at the right angle the beach has a green glow.

After a short walk we came to Floreana Flamingo Lagoon, one of the only places on the Galapagos where flamingos are found.

The bright pink colouration is caused by the krill that they sift out of the water with their specially designed beak. Pink flamingos in zoos normally have artificial colourings added to their food to save disappointment.

As they wade through the water they sway their heads from side to side, filtering the water through their bill. As they do this they make a curious slurping noise like someone finishing a drink with a straw.

We were very happy to see the three flamingos that were there since they migrate between several lagoons and are not always on Floreana Island.

The pinks in the dusk sky beautifully complimented the pink flamingos.

This was our last night on board (boo hoo) so the crew all dressed up especially to wish us farewell with a flamingo pink cocktail and a specially baked cake.

Day 143 - Galapagos Islands

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DAY 6 - ESPAÑOLA ISLAND (24/05/09)

The sandy island of Española was once again home to hundreds of sea lions. Like humans they like to cuddle up to each other in the early morning.

We think it would be very difficult to get bored of these fascinating creatures.

If this isn´t an adolescent sea lion grudgingly accepting a kiss from his mother he is doing a very good impression.

Another turtle had laid her eggs.

Sea lions are very sociable animals and almost always found resting in large groups.

A Sally Light Foot Crab almost gets washed away by the surf.

The bright reds and oranges always stand out vividly from the rest of the sea shore.

A Marine Iguana unusually off the rocks and on the powdery white sand.

This one was eagerly eating the algae off the rock for his breakfast.

Still amazed after six days how close it is possible to get to these wild animals.

Liz found this sleepy baby sea lion and wondered if she could get away with slipping it into her backpack.

Blue footed boobies doing a courtship dance on the lava.

The blue footed bit is easy. Apparently the booby part came from early English sailors who assumed the birds to be stupid because their lack of fear of humans made them easily caught and eaten.

A male trying to attract a female.

Proabably the most attractive of the Galapagos Finches, the Yellow Warbler.

On Española the female lava lizards are distinct from those of other islands in that their whole head, not just the neck, is bright red.

Our next new species was the enormous and beautiful Waved Albatross. We were visiting in breeding season, this one is sitting on an egg. It is important that the male or female is with the egg at all times since if left for even a minute the piratical Frigate Birds will fly in and eat it.

One of the Albatrosses displaying their impressive 2.5 metre wing span in a courtship dance.