Worrall Travel R's

Worrall Travel R's
Roz and Russ

Worrall Travel R's - Kicking the Bucket List

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Christmas Iguana, Albatross, and the best snorkel yet!



Baby Booby
Friday, April 8, 2016 WTRD 90

Last night the seas were pretty rough as we sailed to Hispanola Island.  Our boat is a motor cat so even though it was noisy as it bounded through the waves, the rocking motion seemed rough, but nothing slid from the bed tables on to the floor.  We were glad to sleep in our beds while the crew tended the boat.

We awoke this morning anchored of Hispanola Island.  Our group took a walk around the island form 8:00 to 11:00.  It was hot, sunny, and humid.  The walk was not long, but the morning dragged on in the heat.  There is very little shade on any of these islands, and I started looking at my watch wondering how long we had to endure.

We saw some new marine iguanas today that are red, green and red and green.




Christmas Iguana Meets Godzilla











Our guide Andres called these the Christmas Iguana.  We watched the females digging holes for their nests and fighting one another for nesting territory, as the sweat rolled down o
ur faces and backs.  Even the Iguana were seeking shade under the rocks.

















The primary reason for coming to this island is to see birds, specifically the Galapagos Albatross.  We saw some black footed Boobies, Galapagos doves,


Black Footed Booby


mocking birds, warblers, and one or more of the 15 species of finch.
















The male albatross come usually in March and early April to find a nesting location for his female mate.  We hiked to the area known as the landing strip where we expected to see hundreds of male albatross and saw nothing!  Our guide said the birds were unusually late this year...climate change, El Nino?  He told us about the birds, and how if the eggs get too warm in the hot sun, the Albatross know the egg is not viable and will abandon the egg.


By the time we reached the far side of the island, we finally spotted a couple of male Albatross.




Their wing span is 2-3 meters.  When wings are folded they look quite bulky.  The first male we saw looked a little bewildered by the absence of other birds of his feather.  He finally tired of sitting on what he thought might be an appropriate nest, stretched his wings, and jumped over the cliff to soar away.





We returned to the boat at 11:00.  Russ and I stripped off our steamy, sweaty clothing, and jumped in a cold shower. 

After lunch and siesta, we went snorkeling in an area called Gardners cove.  What a terrific deep water snorkel we had today.  We saw sea turtles, rays, giant parrot fish, Mexican Hogg fish, giant blue damsels, and two reef shark.






Our snorkel was on a rocky island, with caves.  We were able to swim into one of the caves and the variety and volume of fish in the shade of the cave was impressive!

After our morning in the sun, and our snorkel in the sun, Russ and I opted out of beach time and stayed on board to do laundry and read in the late afternoon.

We leave tonight in a little while for San Cristabol Island where we hope to see some red footed boobies tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be our last full day on Galapagos as we will be leaving on Sunday and returning to Quito for a couple of days before returning to stateside.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel Rs in the Galapagos Islands

King of the Mountain and Swimming with Sea Lions





Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7, 2016 WTRD 88-89

Thinking of my Dad today on his birthday.    He would have been 89 today on our 89th day of travel.





As is write this blog it is already April 7, 2016, and we are on day 89 of our South American Adventure.  Russ and I are up and about early this morning before other passengers, having a cup of coffee (me) and cocoa (Russ) on the deck of the QB as the sun is rising over Santa Fe Island.  I am trying to stay focused and mindful of where we are and what we are doing, but it's hard because I know by this time next week we will be home.

So as we drift through the sea, my mind is drifting home.

















Yesterday, we were on Santa Cruz Island with 22,000 inhabitants and home of the Charles Darwin Research Center where we walk from town to the center.





Animals have adapted to human handouts

Walking on the Edge


The biggest and basically the only project that tourists can observe here is the tortoise recovery center.  Whalers, pirates, explorers, fisherman, early inhabitants, introduced rats, cats, and birds have reduced and severely endangered the species  There are 11 species of tortoises here all who have adapted to their specific island an even their specific volcanic habitat.  Some eat high vegetation and their shells overtime have adapted to lifting their heads high, while some who eat low vegetation have a more rounded shell as there is no need to pick their mouth too far off the ground.

This turtle's shell has adapted to lifting its head high to feed on higher vegetation


Darwin's finch




There is a "poison" apple tree from which many of the turtle species eat.  This tree produces an apple that is poison to humans and produces a sticky substance that burns skin tissue.

If picked up and handled, it can burn the skin.  If swallowed it can be fatal.  But the tortoises love them and is their primary food source once they drop from the trees.  

The tortoises move quite slowly, and their days must be very boring as well.  The males spend 2-4 hours mating with a single female who is only 1/3 of their size.  The male's breast plate is concave so that he can snuggle close to his mate.  When not mating, the tortoises play king of the mountain and climb on top of one another.  Interesting behaviors.
Turtles playing king of the mountain
Later in the day we visited the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where we saw another, more rounded species of tortoise.
Into the highlands we go.  How nice to see trees!



Spanish Moss

Turtle Enjoying a Cool Mud Bath in the Bog

Andres tries on a turtle shell.  It's not easy being a turtle with a heavy shell.

Today, April 7

We started our morning with a walk on Santa Fe Island, searching for the brown land iguana, endemic to Santa Fe.  It didn't take very long for us to find several of them.



In addition to the iguana, we also saw the little Galapagos dove with blue eyes and red feet, and several other birds




These land iguanas have adapted to their yellow, orange, and green environment




Look at the Iguana Skin and that of the Cactus Trunk - Adaption.

Yellow Warbler


 and some seal lion pups nursing from their moms.



By 9:30 we were in the warm Galapagos waters snorkeling.  Young sea lions wanted to swim and play with us.  They were diving, rolling, and flipping.  I felt something tug on my fin and it was a sea lion with his mouth clamped on it trying to tug it off.  We tried to take photos of these playful guys, but they were so quick, it was next to impossible.  This morning was a lot of fun!









We stayed in the water for nearly an hour, returned to the ship, and are currently motoring to our next destination which gives us all a time to relax, read, and catch up on journals and blogs.

All is well with the Worrall Travel Rs in the Galapagos Islands