Española Island
After a fascinating afternoon in Seymour Island, today our guests were again overwhelmed by the beauty, the abundance and the variety of wildlife found in Española. Being the oldest island, Española has one of the highest percentages of endemism, where populations isolated for a very long time, and under unique circumstances, had to adapt and evolve to survive.
Hundreds of marine iguanas were warming up at the landing site while sea lions were basking in the sun. Mockingbirds, finches, doves and lava lizards, all unique species to the islands, were around us in a matter of just a few minutes.
Blue footed boobies, at the beginning of their breeding season in Española, were very active showing their best courtship displays, fascinating the guests with their blue feet and their particular way of attracting the females, who on the other hand, seemed to be completely unaware of such efforts.
Nazca boobies and swallowed tailed gulls were also part of the landscape, but best of all were the majestic waved albatrosses; with their huge wingspan (about 2.35mts) and peaceful flights they were the delight for everyone.
After a delicious lunch and perhaps hundreds of photos taken in the morning, we headed out to our next visitor site, Gardner Beach, a beautiful white coral sand beach with a very large colony of playful and lazy sea lions. Deep water snorkeling, kayaking, glass bottom boating, and snorkeling lessons were some of the activities for the afternoon, followed by our daily recap once on board.
But this is not all. This week, we are honored to have Dr. Sylvia Earle on board the National Geographic Endeavour, well known as the female version of Jacques Cousteau, a lady who logged more than 6000 hours diving, who went deeper than any women, who has seen the depths of our oceans, a women who has traveled as a National Geographic expert all around the globe, who has written hundreds of articles and given hundreds of talks, about the importance of saving the oceans as primary source of life and as a key to the balance of life on earth.
We feel fortunate to share her knowledge, her passion and commitment and for sure this will inspire many of us in our daily effort to save our planet!
