Galapagos - 2006

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Galapagos Islands

Horse Riding around Cotopaxi

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Islands visited.

Santa Cruz.

After arriving at Baltra we drove to Puerto Ayora, joined the boat Coral 1 and in the afternoon visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we were able to see the breeding programme for the Giant Tortoises and find out about the various sub-species on the islands. Birds seen included: Darwin Finch, Galapagos Mocking Bird, Yellow Warbler, Large billed Flycatcher, Frigate Bird, Bron Pelican, Galapagos Dove and Galapagos Hawk.

Espanola

In the morning we landed at Punta Suarez here we saw Californian Sea Lions, Sea Iguanas, Lava lizards, Ground Finch, Hood Mocking Bird, Galapagos hawk, American Oystercatcher, Waved Albatross, Blue-footed Booby, Masked or Nazca Booby, Swallow-tail Gull, Red-billed Tropic Bird and Brown Pelican. The afternoon was spent around Gardner Bay. The snorkelling around Turtle Rock was very rough but saw puffer fish, large parrot fish and sea lions.

Floreana Island

In the morning visited Cormorant Point for a walk and then snorkelling at devil's Crown. Again it was very rough with strong currents but saw tropical fish and white tipped reef shark. In the afternoon we visited Post Office Bay to visit the 'post box' and to snorkel from the beach. We saw greater Flamingos, Yellow warbler. White cheeked Pin-tailed Duck, Ruddy Turnstone, Black-necked Stilt, Galapagos Flycatcher, American Oystercatcher, Sally go lightly Crabs, sea lions, Elliot's Stormy Petrel, Red-billed Tropic Bird, Frigate Bird, Noddy Tern, Audubon Shearwater, Brown Pelican, Lava Heron, Galapagos Penguin, two large (150-200 kgs) Green Sea Turtles, Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas. Some of the fish seen included Blue Chin Parrot Fish, Cortez Rainbow Wrasse, Galapagos Puffer and Eagle Ray.

North Seymore

This island has a number of bird breeding areas. We saw Brown Noddy Terns, both Magnificent and Great Frigate Birds, Blue Boobies, Lava Gulls, Swallow-tail Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Yellow Warbler, Small Ground Finch, Sea Iguanas, Ghost Crabs, Galapagos Hermit Crab and Land Iguanas. About 40 land Iguanas have been re-introduced on to this island and we were fortunate to see about 14 of these. We witnessed a rare sight of two males having a very bloody fight.

Rabida and Santiago Islands

In the morning we walked on the island and snorkelled from the beach. Sightings were made of the Medium ground Finch, Galapagos Hawk, Brown Pelican, Brown Noddy Tern, Striated Heron, Marine Iguanas. Fish seen included, King Angelfish, Yellow tail Surgeonfish, Galapagos Mullet, Blue stripped Snapper, Yellow tail Damselfish, Panamic Graysby, Leather Bass, Creole Fish, Blue chin Parrot fish, Rainbow Wrasse, Streamer Hogfish, Bump-head Parrotfish, and Bi-colour Parrotfish. In the afternoon we moved to James Bay on Santiago Island where we walked to see the low-tide lagoons where we saw many Galapagos Field Crickets before returning to snorkel from the beach observing many tropical fish similar to those seen in the morning.

Fernandina and Isabela Islands

In the morning we visited Punta Espinosa Fernandina Island where we were very fortunate to see a Banded Galapagos Snake, which is a constrictor, as well as a Galapagos Scorpion. It was here that we were able to see the Flightless Cormorant, Lava Gulls, Galapagos Penguin, Yellow Warbler, Sea Turtle, American Oystercatcher, Marine Iguanas, Lava lizard and numerous tropical fish including the Hieroglyphic Hawkfish (see photos). In the afternoon firstly we went snorkelling in deep cold water seeing, Puffer fish, Sea Lions, a few parrot fish and Sea Turtles. This was followed by a panga ride where we saw Audubon Shearwaters, Lava Gulls, Blue-footed Bobbies, Masked or more correctly Nazca Boobies, Swallow-tail Gulls, Elliot's Storm Petrel, Brown Noddy Terns and Fur Sea Lions.

Bartolome Island and Santa Cruz Island.

On Bartolome Island firstly we walked to a view point (114m) to view the volcanic formations, In particular examples of Pahoehoe and Aa Lava. Then we went snorkelling around Pinnacle Rock to see Yellow tail Surgeon Fish, Guinea fowl Puffer, Triggerfish, Azure Parrotfish, Blue-chin Parrotfish and juvenile Grunts. After lunch we arrived at Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz for panga ride. In the shallow waters we saw White tipped reef sharks, Eagle Rays, Mustard Rays, Brown Pelican, Lava Heron and Green Sea Turtle.

Before arriving at the airport on the last day we stopped to see wild Giant Tortoises.

Photos

General views of the Islands Return to top of the page.

Birds

Fish

Sea animals

Land animals

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General views of the Islands Return to Menu