Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay on Espanola Island
This was our first full day in paradise, during our morning activity we were greeted by very friendly sea lions, marine iguanas, and hood mockingbirds. At one point it seemed to be that the animals were more than friendly coming close to people like if they wanted to introduce themselves. This visitor site is teeming with life; located in the southeastern extreme of the Archipelago and being very isolated from other islands helped animal and plant species to evolve and become new species which are unique to Española. The island has its own species of mockingbird, lava lizard and an endemic subspecies of marine iguana. The marine iguana shows red and black coloration almost all year around, changing into bright red, black and green for the mating season that happens by coincidence during Christmas season, therefore giving them the nickname of Christmas marine iguanas. Large colonies of sea birds are found here during their breeding times, such us the waved albatross which is one of the largest sea birds in the world. This magnificent flyers land at the beginning of April anywhere from the south pacific to 1000 miles off the coast of Peru, following the nutrient-rich waters of Humboldt current. They lay a single egg and if they are successful in hatching a chick this young will leave the island at the end of December or first week of January.
One of the largest concentrations of Nazca boobies shares the island nesting sites with blue-footed boobies. These two species perform the most beautiful courtship rituals: blue-footed boobies lift up their feet, stretch out their wings and with their bill in a skyward position call the nearest female. Once they have been accepted by each other the couple will stay together until the young fledges and is able to fend for itself.
Male Nazca boobies will rather use stones or twigs which they show to the female and when she finally gets pleased by the amount of gifts she will stay with him to reproduce and raise one young that will help to preserve the species.
The afternoon was spent at Gardner Bay, swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, big schools of colorful tropical fish, giant sea stars and marine turtles. The day was not over yet when some people went for kayaking to explore the rocky shore line on the way back to the Polaris.
We have done so much today. I feel that our spirits have been renewed, and we can not think of much else but seeing the wonderful surprises that we will undoubtedly encounter tomorrow.
This was our first full day in paradise, during our morning activity we were greeted by very friendly sea lions, marine iguanas, and hood mockingbirds. At one point it seemed to be that the animals were more than friendly coming close to people like if they wanted to introduce themselves. This visitor site is teeming with life; located in the southeastern extreme of the Archipelago and being very isolated from other islands helped animal and plant species to evolve and become new species which are unique to Española. The island has its own species of mockingbird, lava lizard and an endemic subspecies of marine iguana. The marine iguana shows red and black coloration almost all year around, changing into bright red, black and green for the mating season that happens by coincidence during Christmas season, therefore giving them the nickname of Christmas marine iguanas. Large colonies of sea birds are found here during their breeding times, such us the waved albatross which is one of the largest sea birds in the world. This magnificent flyers land at the beginning of April anywhere from the south pacific to 1000 miles off the coast of Peru, following the nutrient-rich waters of Humboldt current. They lay a single egg and if they are successful in hatching a chick this young will leave the island at the end of December or first week of January.
One of the largest concentrations of Nazca boobies shares the island nesting sites with blue-footed boobies. These two species perform the most beautiful courtship rituals: blue-footed boobies lift up their feet, stretch out their wings and with their bill in a skyward position call the nearest female. Once they have been accepted by each other the couple will stay together until the young fledges and is able to fend for itself.
Male Nazca boobies will rather use stones or twigs which they show to the female and when she finally gets pleased by the amount of gifts she will stay with him to reproduce and raise one young that will help to preserve the species.
The afternoon was spent at Gardner Bay, swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, big schools of colorful tropical fish, giant sea stars and marine turtles. The day was not over yet when some people went for kayaking to explore the rocky shore line on the way back to the Polaris.
We have done so much today. I feel that our spirits have been renewed, and we can not think of much else but seeing the wonderful surprises that we will undoubtedly encounter tomorrow.
