sarich

  • Home
  • Browse
  • Search

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!
Read More
  • A majestic pose with his shaggy trousers.

    A majestic pose with his shaggy trousers.

    Buteo galapagoensisGalapagos Hawk

  • Searching the beach for scraps.

    Searching the beach for scraps.

    Buteo galapagoensisGalapagos Hawk

  • A far flung gaze.

    A far flung gaze.

    Buteo galapagoensisGalapagos Hawk

  • Arguing over the fishy.

    Arguing over the fishy.

    Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis

  • Very tasty, but a little on the large size.

    Very tasty, but a little on the large size.

    Buteo galapagoensisGalapagos HawkMichelle

  • Proof that we really were in Ecuador.

    Proof that we really were in Ecuador.

    Buteo galapagoensisDadGalapagos HawkMichelle

  • Next on the agenda was South Plaza, which, despite it's small size, is home to large numbers of land iguanas, and lots of sea birds nesting atop its sheer cliffs.

    Next on the agenda was South Plaza, which, despite it's small size, is home to large numbers of land iguanas, and lots of sea birds nesting atop its sheer cliffs.

    Conolophus subcristatusLand Iguana

  • The tropicbird formation.

    The tropicbird formation.

    Phaethon aethereusRedbilled Tropicbird

  • Wonderful flyers enjoying the updrafts at the cliff's edge.

    Wonderful flyers enjoying the updrafts at the cliff's edge.

    Phaethon aethereusRedbilled Tropicbird

  • South Plaza is well known for its colourful flora as well.

    South Plaza is well known for its colourful flora as well.

    Conolophus subcristatusLand Iguana

  • A red-billed tropicbird nesting.

    A red-billed tropicbird nesting.

    Phaethon aethereusRedbilled Tropicbird

  • This marine iguana was battling the rough sea to cling to the rock whilst snacking on the algae.

    This marine iguana was battling the rough sea to cling to the rock whilst snacking on the algae.

    Amblyrhynchus cristatusMarine Iguana

  • Dad managed to capture this picture of a swallow-tailed gull that appears to be peddling across the sky.

    Dad managed to capture this picture of a swallow-tailed gull that appears to be peddling across the sky.

    Creagrus furcatusSwallowtailed Gull

  • HDR3: Looking back across South Plaza at the boat anchored in the small channel between it and Santa Cruz.

    HDR3: Looking back across South Plaza at the boat anchored in the small channel between it and Santa Cruz.

    Landscape

  • On the edge.

    On the edge.

    Creagrus furcatusSwallowtailed Gull

  • North Seymour was the next stop, host to one of the largest populations of frigatebirds. The males inflate their gular pouches and keep an eye out for passing females. Inflating the pouch takes a male several hours, and sometimes they do fight and pop each others pouches with their sharp beaks, which takes them out of action for several weeks whilst the wound heals.

    North Seymour was the next stop, host to one of the largest populations of frigatebirds. The males inflate their gular pouches and keep an eye out for passing females. Inflating the pouch takes a male several hours, and sometimes they do fight and pop each others pouches with their sharp beaks, which takes them out of action for several weeks whilst the wound heals.

    Fregata magnificensMagnificent Frigatebird

  • This male has already found himself a mate, but will continue to react to other females passing, perhaps as insurance in case she decides he's a bit smelly.

    This male has already found himself a mate, but will continue to react to other females passing, perhaps as insurance in case she decides he's a bit smelly.

    Fregata magnificensMagnificent Frigatebird

  • The frigatebird chick grows so slowly that the duration of parental care is the longest of any bird.

    The frigatebird chick grows so slowly that the duration of parental care is the longest of any bird.

    Fregata magnificensMagnificent Frigatebird

  • As a female flies overhead, the male throws back his head, bounces his gular pouch, extends and lightly flaps his wings, and makes a kind of creaking noise that is amplified by the pouch. Quite a display!

    As a female flies overhead, the male throws back his head, bounces his gular pouch, extends and lightly flaps his wings, and makes a kind of creaking noise that is amplified by the pouch. Quite a display!

    Fregata magnificensMagnificent Frigatebird

  • Angry gulls shouting at the fur seal who paid no attention whatsoever.

    Angry gulls shouting at the fur seal who paid no attention whatsoever.

    Arctocephalus galapagoensisCreagrus furcatusGalapagos Fur SealSwallowtailed Gull

  • Good effort, unfortunately without result.

    Good effort, unfortunately without result.

    Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis

  • The last place I expected to see penguins, this was at Bartholomew Island.

    The last place I expected to see penguins, this was at Bartholomew Island.

    Galapagos PenguinSpheniscus mendiculus

  • The penguins can survive due to the cooling Cromwell Current that keeps the sea temperature between 15 and 28 degrees. They have adapted to deal with the sun by extending their wings and bending over to shade their feet, through which a lot of heat is dispersed, and by panting.

    The penguins can survive due to the cooling Cromwell Current that keeps the sea temperature between 15 and 28 degrees. They have adapted to deal with the sun by extending their wings and bending over to shade their feet, through which a lot of heat is dispersed, and by panting.

    Galapagos PenguinSpheniscus mendiculus

  • HDR4: I love the synergy of the bare landscape leading into the ominously dramatic horizon.

    HDR4: I love the synergy of the bare landscape leading into the ominously dramatic horizon.

    Landscape

  • HDR5: Bartholomew is a very well formed extinct volcano with a walking trail to the top with dramatic panoramic views, including the famous Pinnacle Rock (at the mouth of the bay on the right).

    HDR5: Bartholomew is a very well formed extinct volcano with a walking trail to the top with dramatic panoramic views, including the famous Pinnacle Rock (at the mouth of the bay on the right).

    Landscape

  • The motley seafarers. The boat could take a maximum of 14 passengers, so we were just short of filling it.

    The motley seafarers. The boat could take a maximum of 14 passengers, so we were just short of filling it.

    DadLandscapeMichelleRai

  • En route back to the boat moored near Pinnacle Rock.

    En route back to the boat moored near Pinnacle Rock.

    Landscape

  • Our penultimate stop, Sombrero Chino, means Chinese Hat, and the low-lying, circular formation was remarkably similar to its namesake.

    Our penultimate stop, Sombrero Chino, means Chinese Hat, and the low-lying, circular formation was remarkably similar to its namesake.

    Butorides sundevalliLava Heron

  • The beautiful colours of the sally lightfoot crab. They were everywhere, and make up a significant portion of many of the resident species' diet. Outside of the Galapagos, they are enjoyed on many a dining table as well.

    The beautiful colours of the sally lightfoot crab. They were everywhere, and make up a significant portion of many of the resident species' diet. Outside of the Galapagos, they are enjoyed on many a dining table as well.

    Grapsus grapsusSally Lightfoot Crab

  • Such a long trek ahead.

    Such a long trek ahead.

    Grapsus grapsusSally Lightfoot Crab

  • The rocks were literally crawling with these delightfully colourful little creatures.

    The rocks were literally crawling with these delightfully colourful little creatures.

    Grapsus grapsusSally Lightfoot Crab

  • Just as we were arriving at our final stop, Cerro Dragon, the dolphins came close enough for a decent photo opportunity.

    Just as we were arriving at our final stop, Cerro Dragon, the dolphins came close enough for a decent photo opportunity.

    Bottlenosed DolphinTursiops truncatus

  • There was a pod of 5 swimming alongside the bow of the boat for about 10 minutes.

    There was a pod of 5 swimming alongside the bow of the boat for about 10 minutes.

    Bottlenosed DolphinTursiops truncatus

  • It was evening, and the whimbrel was busily probing through the mud for tiny invertebrates.

    It was evening, and the whimbrel was busily probing through the mud for tiny invertebrates.

    Numenius phaeopusWhimbrel

  • An appropriately melancholy picture on which to say goodbye to our amazing adventure around the Galapagos.

    An appropriately melancholy picture on which to say goodbye to our amazing adventure around the Galapagos.

    Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2022 SmugMug, Inc.