Espanola Island
Cool day! Yes! Today on Española Island, we had the opportunity to see many different animals both in the morning and in the afternoon. During the morning outing we saw birds everywhere; blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, albatross, and all the three different species of Darwin’s finches that are found on Española. These are: the small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa), the large cactus finch (Geospiza conirostris), and the warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea). We cannot forget the Española mockingbirds, which are very curious, and approached us making strange and varied sounds, almost as if they were saying “who are you and what did you bring for us?” They were very charming and funny.
We came back on board for lunch and a siesta and in the afternoon had entirely different experiences: glass bottom boating, beach activities, and snorkeling. The snorkeling was great! Some of our guests saw white tip reef sharks and sea turtles and even several blue-footed boobies diving into the water very close to them. It is very unusual to see boobies diving while you are snorkeling!
One of the favorite fish that the blue-footed boobies often catch is the black-striped salema. This is a small fish, about 3 inches long. A hunting booby spots a fish below the surface of the water, from an altitude of more than 60 feet. It decides to dive, tuck its wings, takes on a torpedo shape and reaches speeds of more than 20 miles per hour. Just before the booby enters the water it folds its wings back. The bird passes through the school of fish and dives to a depth of 20 or 30 feet. As the booby returns to the surface it uses its wings and body to propel it after an individual fish. It is amazing to see these sea birds chasing their prey underwater and to see how agile they are. In the water they hardly seem to be a bird – indeed they are incredibly adapted to their life at sea!
Cool day! Yes! Today on Española Island, we had the opportunity to see many different animals both in the morning and in the afternoon. During the morning outing we saw birds everywhere; blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, albatross, and all the three different species of Darwin’s finches that are found on Española. These are: the small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa), the large cactus finch (Geospiza conirostris), and the warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea). We cannot forget the Española mockingbirds, which are very curious, and approached us making strange and varied sounds, almost as if they were saying “who are you and what did you bring for us?” They were very charming and funny.
We came back on board for lunch and a siesta and in the afternoon had entirely different experiences: glass bottom boating, beach activities, and snorkeling. The snorkeling was great! Some of our guests saw white tip reef sharks and sea turtles and even several blue-footed boobies diving into the water very close to them. It is very unusual to see boobies diving while you are snorkeling!
One of the favorite fish that the blue-footed boobies often catch is the black-striped salema. This is a small fish, about 3 inches long. A hunting booby spots a fish below the surface of the water, from an altitude of more than 60 feet. It decides to dive, tuck its wings, takes on a torpedo shape and reaches speeds of more than 20 miles per hour. Just before the booby enters the water it folds its wings back. The bird passes through the school of fish and dives to a depth of 20 or 30 feet. As the booby returns to the surface it uses its wings and body to propel it after an individual fish. It is amazing to see these sea birds chasing their prey underwater and to see how agile they are. In the water they hardly seem to be a bird – indeed they are incredibly adapted to their life at sea!
