South Plaza Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

An early start at 0545 and after a delicious breakfast we boarded our dinghy for a dry landing on the South Plaza Island. Each Island is unique having its own endemic wildlife, so this cruise visits several locations giving us a chance to enjoy many different species in their natural habitats. There are two islands north and south dramatically tilted to form sheer cliffs resulting from seismic uplift when sections of the sea floor were thrust out of the water.
As soon as we arrived at the small jetty we were treated to a whole group of baby sea lions playing in the surf. They were not in the least bit afraid and we had to gently manoeuvre the boat to enable us to step off. The island is covered with lava rock, cacti and low growing succulents. There was so much wildlife you had to carefully watch where you stood it was that prolific. We were there to see Sea Lions, Land Iguanas, Lava Lizards, Marine Iguanas, Brown Pelicans, Blue Footed Boobies, Darwin Finches, Yellow Warblers, Frigate birds and much more.Totally incredible, it was stunning and I absolutely loved it. I was in a photographers heaven and indeed took so many photographs that it is going to take some time to edit. It doesn't get much better than this but I'm sure it will as this trip keeps throwing up surprise after surprise.
Our two and a half hour trek goes all too fast and it's back on board for snacks and a little siesta whilst the Darwin heads the couple or so hours to our next destination Santa Fe' Island for snorkelling off the dinghy.

In the meantime some photographs from South Plaza Island.

1-3. What a greeting, Marine Iguana, Swallow Tailed gull both on the information plinth and an oceanography data tag sunk into the rock to measure yearly movement via satellite.
4-5. A couple of friendly sea lions come to greet us.
6. Swallow tailed gull
7-10. Land iguana, sunbathing in prolific numbers, you had to be careful where you trod.
11-13. Swallow tailed gull with egg, a close up and Lu Lu giving me some earache :))
14-15. Blue footed booby
16. Lava lizard
17. Peek a boo, Gull with chick
18. Frigate bird
19-21. Brown Pelican coming into land and with his mouth full after a successful swoop on fish.
22. Marine iguana
23. Farewell from a Sea Lion.

Adios,

Tony x