Today we started at sunrise with a wet landing at Cormorant Point, on the northern side of Floreana Island. As soon as we landed and got our sandals on, we continued towards the trail that leads to the eastern side. This a white sandy beach with the consistency of flour that is used by Pacific green turtles as a nesting site. The whole beach was covered with tracks of females that had been laying eggs all night and had returned to the ocean before day break. They lay about 120 eggs per nest, on average, and they are exhausted by the effort. As usual, there were several males waiting for them by the shoreline, hoping to copulate and pass their genes on. A couple of females turned back towards the sand to avoid the males, as copulation lasts several hours and they are not willing participants. Our guests loved to watch them as they moved along the beach, among several diamond sting rays and ruddy turnstones. From here, we headed inland to a lagoon, where many greater flamingoes were spotted, as well as a pair of Chilean flamingoes and a black-necked stilt.
After our exciting morning hike, we went back to the ship and sailed towards Champion Island, where we saw Charles mockingbirds, also known as Floreana mockingbirds, as well as many swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, shearwaters and brown noddy terns. Afterwards we snorkeled with lots of California sea lions and turtles.
In the afternoon we kayaked and visited Post Office Bay, where we had the opportunity to leave some postcards and letters, which will be hand delivered to their final destinations. Several centuries ago, this tradition was established by whalers who used to pass through, and this was their only method of communication with their loved ones back home.
It was an exciting day for everyone, full of unique wildlife sightings. We are excited to see what tomorrow has in store for us, as we continue our exploration of these enchanted islands.
