Fernandina

This morning is another occasion when there is a part trail and part panga ride. It has to be said that today was a bit of a disappointment - I was really hoping for better things. However, this is how it went.

A dry landing and the the first bit of the trail is spent avoiding big black marine iguanas.

Marine Iguana

We head off to the aa lava and tide pools. No turtles of note to be seen, except way out in the bay, and even then some of those are probably the marine iguanas swimming to the islands. Some plant life to be seen, though that is mainly Lava Cactus.

Lava Cactus

The main event of this island is the flightless cormorant colony. Flightless because over the generations they have lost the use of their wings - mainly because they have no preditors and fish is plentiful, so there has been no need to fly for food, so the wing have evolved into something for show only. There were several birds nesting, and we also saw some with the classic pathetic wings outstretched.

Wings out to dry

Nesting area

I can't quite put my finger on what was disappointing, because the cormorants were quite impressive, and we did see a Galapagos Hawk, though we seem to be seeing quite a lot of those! Another bird that seemed to be getting about was the Galapagos mockingbird.

Galapagos Hawk

Mockingbird

Front Iguana has lava lizard on head

The panga ride was in search of turtles, boobies and a pelican nesting area - we kinda saw all of them, but only just.

Pelicans nesting

We seemed to be back on the boat all too soon, and having lunch while we sailed on to Urvina Bay, one of the beaches of Isabela Island.

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