Galapagos 2024. Part 4

9/1/2024

We had travelled overnight to the island of Espanola. Started the day by looking out for Waved Albatrosses which are not very common at this time of the year, luckily managed to spot one from the deck even if it was a bit distant. Nearly all of the worlds population of this albatross nest on Espanola.

Waved Albatross

We then went on a zodiac ride along the coast but we were not allowed to land at this site and many others due to the spread of bird flu.

Blue-footed Booby

Galapagos Hawk

Nazca Booby

In the afternoon we moved to Bahia Gardner on Espanola and went to a fantastic beach.

Espanola Mockingbird

American Oystercatcher

Grey Warbler-Finch

10/1/2024

In the morning we were anchored off Isla Eden on the west coast of Santa Cruz. We went for a zodiac ride around the coast and then out in the glass bottom boat.

Brown Pelican

In the afternoon we relocated to another island called North Seymour for what was going to be our last expedition trip. This island had many breeding birds including Frigatebirds and Boobies.

Great Frigatebird

Swallow-tailed Gull

Last night on Santa Cruz II

11/1/2024

Just enough time in the morning to have a last look from deck and then we were taken ashore to Baltra Island and the airport. A flight to Guayaquil and then the long flight to Amsterdam before another flight to London. The journey home the worst part of any holiday!!

Brown Noddy

There was quite a large army presence at Guayaquil airport.

Galapagos 2024. Part 3

7/1/2024 cont…

In the afternoon we went to the Isla Plaza Sur where we had a great afternoon walk.There were many breeding birds and Iguanas.

Red-billed Tropicbird

Swallow-tailed Gull

Nazca Booby

Frigatebird

Elliot’s Storm-Petrel

Land Iguana

8/1/2024

Today we are visiting the Charles Darwin Foundation on the island of Santa Cruz.

We then had a bike ride to our nest destination where we shown how they make moonshine.

We then had lunch at Rancho El Manzanillo in the highlands. There were lots of wild giant tortoises here.

We then had some time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora. There was an amazing fish stall there that attracted the attention of Frigatebirds, Sealions, Lava Gulls, Brown Pelicans and Lava herons as well as tourists.