Red Footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigate Birds

Saturday, April 9, 2016, WTRD 91

We were out the starting gate at 7:30 this morning on the hunt for Red Footeed Boobies.

Unlike the Blue Footed Boobies that nest on the ground, the Red Footed Boobies have shorter legs that inhibit walking, so their nests are in trees.  There are far fewer Red Footed Boobies, and looking for them in trees is more difficult.

We landed on a lovely beach where sea lions bathed in the waves. and then began our ascent upwards where we would find some trees.

However, we were successful and got some pretty good photographs, even though we had to hike up a steep trail on San Cristobal to get to the nests of the Red Foot.

Anybody see a tree yet?

Finally we spot a tree in the distance, and it looks like there may be a Red Foot Up there.  But surely, there have to be more trees.  Please, please let there be more trees.

Add caption

Add caption

Beautiful vistas, but no trees.

Nesting Blue Footed Bobbies, but no trees.

Finally, we see some trees and a few red foots present.

Reed Foot, Blue Billed Booby shading her egg...doesn't need to keep it warm here.

Red Foot in flight

We had to hunt, and play peek-a-boo, but were successful in seeing quite a few of these Red Footed Boobies.

After two hours of walking, we made our way back

Seemed steeper going back down

to the boat where we showered, relaxed, and had a terrific lunch on the fan tail while we circled the huge rock where we will be snorkeling later this afternoon.

Gill and Julie

Mick and Peter

Brendan, Dylan, and Julie

Julie, Peter, and Leslye

Russ, Nathan, Leon, and Bev

But before we snorkel,  we go for another walk-about to spy the nesting sight of the Magnificent Frigate Bird.  The frigate birds were plentiful and beginning their nesting season.  Unfortunately for us, none of them had their nests close to the paths and in good camera shot.

The terrain is rocky, and we have to concentrate more on our footfall than skyward as we pick our way across the island.

Females looking for a handsome male.

The pictures and video I took of the frigates nesting on Isla Isabela of the coast of Mexico in 2009 are still the best.  I was able to capture a couple of the males from quite a distance in the nest and in the sky.

In the late afternoon, we went for a deep water snorkel at Split Rock.  Andres tells us this is one of the favorite dive spots in the Galapagos.  Today when we get there, the current is strong and the water clarity is not so good.

The bottom is deep, and we can not see the bottom.  We were fortunate to see a beautiful eagle ray with leopard spots and a large turtle.  Photos courtesy of our guide Andres and his Go-Pro.

We looked but couldn't find a hammer head shark.  I think I was relieved actually not see one.  It was sad to think this was our last snorkel.

After an evening of exchanging addresses, drinking wine, and a nice dinner, we retired one last time on the Queen Beatrice.






We leave in the morning for Quito and will arrive late in the afternoon.

We will have one full day in Quito on Monday where we will do a morning city tour, do some shopping and resting in the afternoon, have one last dinner with new friends, and leave for the airport by 9:30 pm.  We take the red eye home early Tuesday morning.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's in Ecuador

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