Our next island to visit was Espanola. It is an island with cliffs and boulders that we had to walk over. We saw the Galapagos hawk and marine iguanas – these were redder in colour than the ones on the other islands. There were about a dozen lying together on a rock.
There were the usual sea lions on the beach. There was a young sea lion that was only a few hours old. The placenta was still lying near the mother.
Another young seal lion was very curious about us.
There were lots of mocking birds, and blue-footed boobies were on their nest. One pair of boobies had decided to have their nest on the footpath. We had to negotiate around them. They weren’t worried, just sat there and looked at us.
On this island was the Galapagos waved albatross. Espanola is the only island you will see them. They were paired up and preening each other.
There was a nest with a young albatross in it – it was half fluffy. It’s parents had gone to sea to find it food.
As we walked along the cliff, we could see a blowhole caused by the waves rushing into a hole in the rocks and being forced out through a hole upwards. The water came up a long way and made a rainbow each time.
There were many frigate birds flying around and lots of Nasca boobies.
Time for kayaking – the first time I had been. It was enjoyable until my grandson decided to rock the kayak.
More deep-water snorkelling for my grandson where he saw white-tipped reef sharks. It is said the Galapagos is the only place where someone shouts shark and everyone jumps in the water to look!
We ended the day on the beach in Gardner Bay. It was a long stretch of pure white sand – plus the usual sea lions. I went for a swim. Sea lions came and joined us.
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Nannie RaRa 