Santa Cruz Island, 11/1/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Santa Cruz Island is home to the second largest population of giant tortoises in Galapagos. They are dome shaped because they have evolved on this Island where food is plentiful on the ground, in comparison to their relatives with saddleback shapes in places where food is much higher and harder to reach – an impressive fact about how populations are different from island to island. This is just another example of adaptive radiation on the archipelago.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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Isabela Island holds half of the land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. Towering over the rest of the island chain with its massive shield volcanos, it is a diverse environment for numerous species. A morning visit to Urbina Bay shows us the unique and young geological formation of an uplifted area. A couple of square kilometers of intertidal zone was uplifted in the early 1950’s, in certain cases over four meters out of the ocean left high and dry. Vegetation has taken over the area since the uplift, with Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas roaming the area freely. We encountered over nine tortoises using our path for easy transportation. Yellow warblers, Galapagos mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches provided an interesting soundscape. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove, with its historic graffiti written on the cliffs, some dating back to the early 1800’s. In the water or exploring along the coast, we encountered Galapagos penguins fishing among flightless cormorants, with the occasional plunge diving pelican. A heavy rain shower provided a cool, crisp feeling to the atmosphere as the sun painted the late afternoon sky among the clouds. It was another fascinating day exploring these incredible islands.
Today’s expedition began at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine and volcanically active islands in the Galápagos. As we stepped onto the black lava fields, we were greeted by marine iguanas piled together to absorb the early sun. In a moment that captured the curiosities of Galápagos, we spotted a lava lizard perched on the head of one of the marine iguanas, which is an iconic example of the island’s unique interactions between species. Just steps away, a flightless cormorant spread its wings to dry. These remarkable birds, having lost the ability to fly, have instead evolved into powerful swimmers, diving with agility beneath the waves. Along the coastline, a brown pelican standing on the canopy of a red mangrove tree was patiently waiting, then gracefully plunged into the water to catch some fish. In the afternoon, we navigated the dramatic coastline of Punta Vicente Roca at North Isabela. The towering cliffs, sculpted by wind and sea, framed the perfect backdrop for observing seabirds and marine life. The combination of volcanic landscapes, intimate wildlife encounters, and the beauty of nature made today truly unforgettable.
Today we visited the easternmost point in the Galapagos, Mount Pitt. This site is home to a nesting colony of red-footed boobies, frigates, and a few blue-footed boobies. During our morning hike we spotted not only these species, but a few endemic lava lizards, an endemic centipede, and a few finches. The afternoon was a very relaxing one, as we enjoyed swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Cerro Brujo and walking along its white sand beach. Later in the afternoon we circumnavigated the famous landmark known as Kicker Rock. It was a great day!
