530AM: Early wakup and breakfast of bread, jam and fruit.
6AM: Dry landing at Punta Suarez on Espanola. We had an earlier than usual wakeup to increase our chances of seeing Waved Albatross, which aren’t due back in the area until next week. Luckily, we were able to briefly observe one from the overlook. Expanola is also home to the “Albatross Airport”, and Galapagos hawk nest that currently has a chick, which we were able to observe the parents feeding. There’s also a blowhole that can be observed from the overlook, and when the light catches it just right, the spray is lit up like a rainbow.
There were many marine iguanas at this location, which gave a us ample opportunity to observe them for our research project. It was breeding season, and many females were bing chased by many potential suitors. Our guide informed us that occasionally, the males will chase the female to exhaustion, sometimes literally to death.
9AM: Return to Aida Maria to sail around Punta Suarez and search for more waved albatross- we observed two on the surface of the water, which took off as we approached. We watched the blowhole from the boat, and Ruben told us that he had occasionally observed marine iguanas that got a little too close to the blowhole, catching an un-intentioned “ride” on the spray. We continued to cruise about 40 minutes to Gardner bay, and then hopped onto the panga to snorkel in a cave. Inside was a massive school of creole fish swimming deep. Soon it was lunch, and we were treated to pork, potatoes and hominy.
2PM: Wet landing on Gardner Bay beach. This beach was also full of sea lions, including one juvenile that seemed to be looking for its mother- approaching and sniffing many other sea lions, but the other sea lions barked at them to back off. We found a family of oystercatchers, and spent the afternoon swimming and bodysurfing.
5PM: Return to Aida Maria for dinner ( beef, noodles, coleslaw and fruit) and cruise to Floreana. The stars were amazing- we even got to see the Southern Cross.
PUNTA SUAREZ: 82.5°F 85.5%, partly cloudy, little wind -marine iguana -brown pelican -blue-footed booby -Galapagos sea lion -Galapagos hawk -swallow-tailed gull -Galapagos dove -Nazca booby -Sally lightfoot crab -waved albatross -hood mockingbird -cactus finch -large ground finch -lava lizard
GARDNER BAY: 87°F, little wind, scattered clouds -Galapagos sea lion -marine iguana -Sally lightfoot crab -American oystercatcher -yellow-tailed surgeon fish -king angel fish -black-striped salema -purple urchin -chocolate chip sea star -green sea urchin -Pacific green sea turtle