On Day 2 we rise early and find ourselves at Genovesa (Tower) Island, also known as “Bird Island”, a name it lives up to. This baby Frigate bird is among the first to greet us.
Another baby Frigate bird rests on the nest...
...while Daddy Frigate preens himself.
We are lucky to see a Short-Eared Owl so close up. They actively hunt during the day for Storm Petrels and young Red-Footed Boobies.
A Galapagos Dove forages for seeds.
So many birds surround us we don’t know which direction to point the camera in.
Darwin’s Finches (also known as Galapagos Finches) are a group of 14 or 15 species of perching birds. They were first collected by Charles Darwin on the Galapagos Islands during the second voyage of The Beagle.
Red-Footed Boobies are spectacular divers, plunging into the ocean at high speeds to catch prey.
The Galapagos Mockingbird is a curious bird and gets quite close to people, seeming fearless.
Preening and more preening.
Nazca Boobies are known for practicing obligate siblicide. They lay two eggs, several days apart. If both eggs hatch, the elder chick will push it’s sibling out of the nest area, leaving it to die of thirst, starvation or cold. The parent booby will not intervene and the younger chick will inevitably die. It is believed that two eggs are laid so that one remains an insurance in case the other gets destroyed or eaten, or the chick dies soon after hatching.
Baby Nazca Booby.
Two Nazca Boobies a-courtin’.
Female Frigate bird.
Lava Cactus grows exclusively on barren lava fields, lying at sea level. Not only is it one of the few plants that survive in this extremely dry, challenging habitat, it is often one of the first plants to colonize a fresh lava flow.
In the afternoon we visit Darwin Bay, which was created when the island’s large crater collapsed below sea level. Once ashore the number of birds and wildlife is incredible.
Galapagos Sea Lions have a good life.
On today’s snorkelling trip Tim spotted five White-Tipped Reef Sharks.
Swallow-Tailed Gulls have a go.
This little sea lion was so cute we just couldn’t stop taking pictures of him.
LOVE those red feet!
You’re never alone in the Galapagos. This friendly guy follows us up from the beach.
A pretty Lava Dove.
We watch patiently as a Heron emerges from his nest in the rocks.
A Red-Footed Booby wonders what Sandi is up to.
Red-Footed Boobies building a nest.
The Marine Iguana is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the ability, unique among lizards, to live and forage in the sea. It can dive over 10 meters into the water.
Another brilliant close to another amazing day.
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