Lava Lizards and Land Iguana

If this lava lizard looks hot...well it was. That's one of the things I really liked about our visit to the islands. I finally got warm through and through.

Great Frigatebird, Land Iguana, and Lava Lizards

The male frigatebirds perch like this near their nest to rest. I am not sure, but I believe the feathers are raised and fluffy near the neck to give the bird some ventilation while resting in the hot sun.

Leaping Lizards and Frigatebirds

After leaving Isabels Island and going back to Santa Cristóbal Island, we had one more day of exploration. This involved a boat ride to North Seymour Island. Here, we got to see a jumping lava lizard and lots of frigatebirds.

A Lava Lizard and a few Tortoises

It is a bit amazing that these animals, that are stuck on the ground with their heavy shell and cumbersome feet, can find enough to thrive without the help of humans. Yes, there are many place with lush forest cover, but there are also places like this, where the ground is simply broken lava.

Walking to Tortuga Bay

Like the finches, mockingbirds come in a variety of species. This one is the Galapagos mockingbird and can be found on all the islands except three. those three island each have their own endemic species.

Land Iguanas and Lava Lizards

The image above seems to summarize much of the Galapagos: a land iguana, a laval lizard, and a chunk of lava. 

South PLaza Island - III

South Plaza Island is not limited to providing habitat only to Galapagos land iguana, here we also find birds. Here is a small ground finch.

Birds on Santa Cruz Island

The Galapagos flycatcher above is sitting on a limb waiting for the next insect he wants to eat to come by.

Galapagos Mocking Bird and a Brown Pelican

Last time, I showed you this handsome mockingbird sitting high on a bare limb. Here he is near the ground and closer to me. He's quite a interesting bird.

Along the Beach and then Inland

A common sight along all the beaches we visited we the sally lightfoot crabs. Named for a dancer of yore, these can curry all over the rocks with ease.

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island

Our journey began in earnest by flying to San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos. The first afternoon, I took a walk through the forest and up a hill to a lookout where we hoped to see some frigate birds. On the way, we spotted a variety of birds. Above is a medium ground finch.