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Galapagos Islands

17 Oct 2011

8 days cruising round the Galapagos Islands off the west coast of Ecuador with my dad. Apologies for the size of the gallery; the pictures tell the story of our trip and I just couldn't make it any smaller!
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  • "Purrrllleeeaaasssee!"

    "Purrrllleeeaaasssee!"

    Galapagos Sea LionZalophus californianus

  • "Oh go on then."<br />
<br />
The little fella actually chased and grabbed the strap himself and had a good tug.

    "Oh go on then."

    The little fella actually chased and grabbed the strap himself and had a good tug.

    Galapagos Sea LionMichelleZalophus californianus

  • "Get it down yer neck quick Jack, one of them nasty frigates is coming."

    "Get it down yer neck quick Jack, one of them nasty frigates is coming."

    Bluefooted BoobyFregata minorGreat FrigatebirdSula nebouxii

  • "I'm trying, I'm trying, it's just too big."

    "I'm trying, I'm trying, it's just too big."

    Bluefooted BoobyFregata minorGreat FrigatebirdSula nebouxii

  • "I'll have that if you don't mind."

    "I'll have that if you don't mind."

    Bluefooted BoobyFregata minorGreat FrigatebirdSula nebouxii

  • "Thanks boys."

    "Thanks boys."

    Bluefooted BoobyFregata minorGreat FrigatebirdSula nebouxii

  • We cruised round the older "south islands" (including eastwards), most of which are reasonably flat, and, at the time we visited, very dry.

    We cruised round the older "south islands" (including eastwards), most of which are reasonably flat, and, at the time we visited, very dry.

    LandscapeMichelle

  • Young waved albatross awaiting lunch.

    Young waved albatross awaiting lunch.

    Diomedea irrorataWaved Albatross

  • Given this is taken at 16mm focal length, and the lizards are no more than 6 inches long, this gives an idea of how close one can approach the wildlife.

    Given this is taken at 16mm focal length, and the lizards are no more than 6 inches long, this gives an idea of how close one can approach the wildlife.

    Espanola Lava LizardMicrolophus delanonis

  • The racing booby (nazca) having a good stretch, with my dad in the background.

    The racing booby (nazca) having a good stretch, with my dad in the background.

    Nazca BoobySula granti

  • Coming in to land.

    Coming in to land.

    Phaethon aethereusRedbilled Tropicbird

  • These amazing birds have a wingspan wider than I am tall, and are possibly the most graceful flyers, soaring high on extended wings and rarely flapping at all. They will roam up to 100km from the nest in search of food for their young.

    These amazing birds have a wingspan wider than I am tall, and are possibly the most graceful flyers, soaring high on extended wings and rarely flapping at all. They will roam up to 100km from the nest in search of food for their young.

    Diomedea irrorataPhaethon aethereusRedbilled TropicbirdWaved Albatross

  • The noise was fantastic, and the guide showed us a highly entertaining picture he had been lucky enough to snap of a marine iguana in flight on the spray. I sat for a long while, but seems the iguanas may have wised up to that eventuality as they stayed away.

    The noise was fantastic, and the guide showed us a highly entertaining picture he had been lucky enough to snap of a marine iguana in flight on the spray. I sat for a long while, but seems the iguanas may have wised up to that eventuality as they stayed away.

    Landscape

  • Begging like this stimulates the parent to regurgitate a delicious meal.

    Begging like this stimulates the parent to regurgitate a delicious meal.

    Diomedea irrorataWaved Albatross

  • Less graceful on land.

    Less graceful on land.

    Diomedea irrorataWaved Albatross

  • And thoroughly ungainly on take-off and landing, having to launch themselves from cliffs on their way out and pray against stalling on their return.

    And thoroughly ungainly on take-off and landing, having to launch themselves from cliffs on their way out and pray against stalling on their return.

    Diomedea irrorataWaved Albatross

  • This lava lizard was threatening me by bouncing up and down on his front legs.

    This lava lizard was threatening me by bouncing up and down on his front legs.

    Espanola Lava LizardMicrolophus delanonis

  • Ideally, view this pic at full screen; even so, it gives only a diminished sense of the size of the sea lion colony inhabiting this beautiful beach. This is Isla Gardner, a short hop from our previous stop, and still part of Isla Española.

    Ideally, view this pic at full screen; even so, it gives only a diminished sense of the size of the sea lion colony inhabiting this beautiful beach. This is Isla Gardner, a short hop from our previous stop, and still part of Isla Española.

    Galapagos Sea LionZalophus californianus

  • Like a dart, high speed fishing. They have protective covers that shield their eyes from the salt water, but life-long repeated impacts result in a high incidence of blindness.

    Like a dart, high speed fishing. They have protective covers that shield their eyes from the salt water, but life-long repeated impacts result in a high incidence of blindness.

    Bluefooted BoobySula nebouxii

  • Trying to get a decent pic without getting too close to the female sea lions with the bull keeping a watchful eye just out of shot. You can just make out our boat in the background.

    Trying to get a decent pic without getting too close to the female sea lions with the bull keeping a watchful eye just out of shot. You can just make out our boat in the background.

    DadGalapagos Sea LionMichelleZalophus californianus

  • A proud mum with the new addition to her family unit.

    A proud mum with the new addition to her family unit.

    Galapagos Sea LionZalophus californianus

  • Sunset from The Beagle.

    Sunset from The Beagle.

    Sunset

  • Sailing overnight brought us to Punta Pitt, one of the more hilly islands we visited. This grasshopper is about 3 inches long.

    Sailing overnight brought us to Punta Pitt, one of the more hilly islands we visited. This grasshopper is about 3 inches long.

    Grasshopper

  • We saw these smooth-billed ani repeatedly throughout our trip, but they were one of the only timid creatures in the Galapagos (apart from the rat, which I entirely failed to capture), and this was the best image I was able to acquire.

    We saw these smooth-billed ani repeatedly throughout our trip, but they were one of the only timid creatures in the Galapagos (apart from the rat, which I entirely failed to capture), and this was the best image I was able to acquire.

    Crotophaga aniSmoothbilled Ani

  • A master poseur.

    A master poseur.

    Redfooted BoobySula sula

  • Detail of the foot of the red-footed booby. No one is quite sure why the two booby species developed such distinctively colourful feet. The red-footed is the smallest of the booby species.

    Detail of the foot of the red-footed booby. No one is quite sure why the two booby species developed such distinctively colourful feet. The red-footed is the smallest of the booby species.

    Redfooted BoobySula sula

  • HDR2 of a magnificent view.

    HDR2 of a magnificent view.

    Landscape

  • You can just about make out the bump in this pic. I reckon the little fella/lady will grow up to be an avid traveller.<br />
<br />
The pic also gives a good comparison versus the previous of the additional detail that can be captured in HDR (viz. the clouds).

    You can just about make out the bump in this pic. I reckon the little fella/lady will grow up to be an avid traveller.

    The pic also gives a good comparison versus the previous of the additional detail that can be captured in HDR (viz. the clouds).

    LandscapeMichelle

  • The frigatebirds can be extremely aggressive.

    The frigatebirds can be extremely aggressive.

    Fregata minorGreat Frigatebird

  • It seems the other sea bird may have just made a catch and the frigate is attempting to force it to regurgitate.

    It seems the other sea bird may have just made a catch and the frigate is attempting to force it to regurgitate.

    Fregata minorGreat Frigatebird

  • Ganging up on the poor target. No significant damage was done, although it appeared that the frigates may have been successful in their gambit.

    Ganging up on the poor target. No significant damage was done, although it appeared that the frigates may have been successful in their gambit.

    Fregata minorGreat Frigatebird

  • Jumping for joy. Apart from the social and "fun" factors, there is suggestion that the leaping can help to dislodge parasites.

    Jumping for joy. Apart from the social and "fun" factors, there is suggestion that the leaping can help to dislodge parasites.

    Pantropical Spotted DolphinStenella attenuata

  • This rocky outcrop is known as León Dormido, or Sleeping Lion, due to its resemblance from a particular angle of a sleeping sea lion.

    This rocky outcrop is known as León Dormido, or Sleeping Lion, due to its resemblance from a particular angle of a sleeping sea lion.

    DadLandscape

  • Not this angle.

    Not this angle.

    LandscapeMichelleRai

  • My, what a big camera you have.

    My, what a big camera you have.

    LandscapeRai

  • A long time was spent waiting for him to strike, but herons have more patience than I. This was taken after our arrival at Isla Lobos.

    A long time was spent waiting for him to strike, but herons have more patience than I. This was taken after our arrival at Isla Lobos.

    Ardea herodiasGreat Blue Heron

  • Take-off down the left side first, then down the right.

    Take-off down the left side first, then down the right.

    Bluefooted BoobySula nebouxii

  • The fishing action.

    The fishing action.

    Bluefooted BoobySula nebouxii

  • The final moment in detail. Sadly I was on the wrong side of the Panda (little outboard boat) and I caught someone's ear half way across the lens in that moment, hence the funny colour.

    The final moment in detail. Sadly I was on the wrong side of the Panda (little outboard boat) and I caught someone's ear half way across the lens in that moment, hence the funny colour.

    Bluefooted BoobySula nebouxii

  • The sun drops very quickly at the equator.

    The sun drops very quickly at the equator.

    SunsetThe Beagle

  • These very playful little pups had been jumping and tumbling over each other through all the little pools and paused their frolicking for a moment to check out us checking them out.

    These very playful little pups had been jumping and tumbling over each other through all the little pools and paused their frolicking for a moment to check out us checking them out.

    Galapagos Sea LionZalophus californianus

  • Our next stop was Isla Santa Fé, towards the centre of the Galapagos, and one of the oldest at 4 million years. I love the highlights the sun gives round the wings and tail of this hawk.

    Our next stop was Isla Santa Fé, towards the centre of the Galapagos, and one of the oldest at 4 million years. I love the highlights the sun gives round the wings and tail of this hawk.

    Buteo galapagoensisGalapagos Hawk

  • A beautiful little yellow warbler.

    A beautiful little yellow warbler.

    Dendroica petechiaYellow Warbler

  • Details.

    Details.

    Dendroica petechiaYellow Warbler

  • The land iguanas listen out for the falling of fruit from the cactus trees. A piece of fruit had literally just fallen near us and this fellow perked up.

    The land iguanas listen out for the falling of fruit from the cactus trees. A piece of fruit had literally just fallen near us and this fellow perked up.

    Conolophus pallidusSanta Fe Land Iguana

  • He knew exactly where the fruit had fallen.

    He knew exactly where the fruit had fallen.

    Conolophus pallidusSanta Fe Land Iguana

  • And enjoyed it mightily.

    And enjoyed it mightily.

    Conolophus pallidusSanta Fe Land Iguana

  • Just finalising the shedding of his last skin.

    Just finalising the shedding of his last skin.

    Galapagos Lava LizardMicrolophus albemarlensis

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