Galapagos ~ here we are !!

We left our Quito hotel around 6.30 am for our flight to Galapagos.   Our bags were x-rayed and we were checked in efficiently by our ground agents for our flight to Baltra via Guayaquil. 

Medium Ground Finch

As we walked from the 'plane to the terminal, we spotted our first Darwin's finches, two medium ground finch pecking crumbs outside the airport cafe!   A great start to our Galapagos collection.    Through immigration, we had bags checked for any errant seeds or food (neither allowed to be brought in) and paid our US$10 Galapagos National Park fee.   Next was a journey on the local bus service to the jetty where the ferry connects Baltra to Santa Cruz.   We were joining our boat here by panga, and The Cachalote was moored further east in the strait.

Cachalote

As we stood in the shade of the ferry terminal blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds flew past, I spotted lava heron on a mangrove branch in the middle of the strait, and a sealion was hauled up on a bouy.   Soon we were on our way, in two pangas, to the boat.   We embarked using the "panga handshake" (ie., grabbing the forearm and the hand of the person helping you on board.   Cabins had been allocated - there were 11 of us in 8 cabins - and our luggage had already been loaded so we quickly freshened up before we had lunch.   After lunch we went through the obligatory safety briefing, then as the boat got underway, we either unpacked, rested, or sat on the sundeck birding, we were on our way to South Plaza Island.

Sealions & Sally Lightfoot Crabs

We moored in the strait between North and South Plaza.  The captain gave 6 short and one long blast on the siren and we all got into our life jackets and met on the foredeck.   Once the Captain was happy that we were sure of the procedures we were ready to disembark for our first exciting landing - luckily a dry one!

Common Carpetweed

As we clambered onto the jetty, sealions were basking on the slipway and rocks nearby.   Sally lightfoot crabs fed on morsels in crevices, and marine iguanas lay across our path.   As we gingerly stepped over them our guide pointed out small lava lizards, the females with a bright red neck and chest and the males showing off by doing press-ups.   Common carpetweed spread out, in the style of the name.   Small white flowers nestled in between the succulent green leaves from green.   Older plants were coloured pink, orange and red depending on the age of the plant.  

Swallow-Tailed Gulls

Swallow-tailed gulls, a truly handsome bird, stood close by, completely uninhibited by our presence.   Small ground finch pecked at the base of opuntia (prickly pear) cactus.   Brown noddy were feeding like tern, flying over the sea then diving for fish.   Brown pelican, magnificent frigatebird and the delightful red-billed tropicbirds with their long white tail streamers were passing at eye level as we stood on the top of the dramatic cliffs.

Land Iguana

A shoal of yellow-finned mullet fed near the surface of the water and two turtles rolled about as they mated in the azure blue sea.   As we moved along the south-east coast we saw more swallow-tailed gulls and a couple of nasca boobies.   Yellow warbler and cactus finch were also feeding along this stretch of the island.   Our guide pointed out some coral fossils from when the land was under the sea.   The limestone of this island was smooth and shone in the sunlight, this is apparently caused by seal lion urine and the oil from their fur which wears away the surface of the rock after many years.

South Plaza

We passed a bachelor sealion colony, they lazed on the cliffs.   As we covered the final part of the island, we noticed a sealion which had just given birth, with the placenta still attached.   Nearby was the site of the birth and a pool of sea water and blood.   Ruddy turnstones were drinking this valuable supply of nutrients.   A lava gull, with its all grey plumage stood close by waiting for its chance to feed on the afterbirth.

Sealion Mum & Baby

I spotted a hudsonian whimbrel and then Richard saw a wandering tattler.   Soon it was time to return to the boat, and relax before dinner.   Unfortunately the sea was rather choppy and most people felt a little worse for wear.   As we approached the harbour of Puerto Ayora and the anchors were lowered, we took dinner.   Our captain introduced the crew and after an exciting and hectic day we all went to bed.