Espanola~ Suarez Point

In the AM we did a dry landing at Suarez Point. This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the oceanfront, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photography opportunities.

WE were greeted by playful sea lions and Christmas iguanas as we landed at Suarez Point for an early morning hike. But it was the Nazca Boobies that was the star of this show. The colony was massive and it was baby time in the Galapagos so we were treated to many Nazca boobie babies.

We were greeted by Christmas Iguanas and, of course, friendly sea lions

We were greeted by Christmas Iguanas and, of course, friendly sea lions

Christmas Iguana

Christmas Iguana

Christmas Iguana

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NAZCA BOOBIES

Female Nazca boobies do lay two eggs four to five days apart so that, if the first is broken or eaten, the second may yet produce an offspring. If both eggs hatch the babies fight until only one survives. This is how the population is kept in balance.

The babies were little white puff balls

BAby with a big mouth

These two were performing a mating ritual (the male brings pebbles to court the female)

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And we saw the famous Blue Footed Boobie, Galapagos Hawks, Oyster Cracker, and one lost Albatross (that will likely die)

This blue footed boobie was tagged to study it's migration behavior.

Galapagos OysterCracker

Galapagos Hawks

Our group taking photos of the lost Albatross