Genovesa
Genovesa is one of the Galápagos Islands located in the northern hemisphere and the only one open to visitors; here the anchorage is within a collapsed caldera, making it even more special.
This morning we visited Prince Philip’s Steps, where we walked through colonies of seabirds, such as the great frigatebirds; this time of the year the males display their inflated red pouches to attract the females.
Nazca boobies are at every step, displaying, dancing, and making noises, some sitting on their eggs and others taking care of their young. When you look up into the trees you can see other seabirds; these are the beautiful red-footed boobies which are also about to start nesting. There are about half a million red-footed boobies in the Galápagos, making this the largest population in the world.
Down the path lies a location where thousands of storm petrels congregate, flying erratically above an open lava field with many holes in which they live and nest; this quantity of birds makes an ideal restaurant for day-hunting short-eared owls that can sometimes be seen in action. After this interesting expedition we headed back on board to change and go back out to enjoy the exceptional underwater life that these islands possess. Fishes, rays, invertebrates and other forms of life are part of this rich ecosystem that includes one of the most successful fishes of the oceans: sharks, which are actually very friendly, as opposed to what people think.
Our next stop was Darwin Bay, with a coralline sandy beach where swallow-tailed gulls are found nesting on the ground or on rocks. Following the path, a line of red mangroves stands out against the white and is the ideal nesting for red-footed boobies, while the neighboring salt bushes are perfect for the great frigatebirds. Doves, herons, mockingbirds, finches and other birds, including migratory ones, are additional attractions to birdwatchers at any level, as well as photographers.
We don’t want to forget sea lions; they are always in our company and we love it. On the rocks we see the only other kind of sea lion in the Galápagos – fur seals – which never go to the beach and prefer rocky places with plenty of shade due to the double fur whose name they bear.
Some also chose to kayak, and enjoyed the company of some birds as they paddled along the cliff walls.
The day ended with fantastic memories of the island, and with sun setting behind it.
