Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Morning visit to El Barranco, Genovesa Island.
We had chosen to have this island included in our itinerary especially to see the red footed boobies, and we weren't disappointed. The white Nazca boobies were also beautiful to see. The island is volcanic and barren of colour, the vegetation mainly grey, so the red feet of the boobies, and also the white Nazcas, is in marked contrast to their surroundings. The large but still fluffy albatross chicks/ fledglings spilling over their nest but determined to stick it out and screech for mum were very entertaining!
This afternoon, there is a dry landing at El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps). Red-footed boobies nest here in Palo Santo trees, and Nazca (formerly masked) boobies nest near the trail. Storm petrels can be found in large numbers in an open lava-field.
Afternoon visit to Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island.
The entire day was spent on Genovesa (Tower), considered to be one of the most spectacular Islands in Galapagos for bird species. We first made a wet landing at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tidal pools. The bay was created when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level.
Bird species that may be spotted include finches, red footed-boobies, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons, and warblers. Following a trail, we climbed gradually to the edge of the cliff where red-footed boobies nested in the mangrove trees below. At the end the trail, at the cliff's edge, there is an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.
We enjoyed the rawness of this volcanic island, and the iconic scene from the top of the trail, where we took several group shots, and Ted disobeyed our rather bossy guide, and climbed up to touch the trig !
- comments