February 2, Thursday – Galapagos, Ecuador – South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands

The walk on South Plaza Island was particularly lovely.  The island is pretty stark and dry but there was a lot of cacti.

The island has an overpopulation of land iguana, because of the lack of hawks on the island. So most of the cacti were being guarded by a land iguana defending his (or her) own cactus.

Land Iguana defending his cactus

And the tourists taking a picture of the Land Iguana defending his cactus

and the carpet weed was bright red in many places…making the island very colorful.

Species list includes:

Swallow Tailed Gulls

Land Iguanas

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What happens when you don't take your water bottle:

and another iguana defending his cactus.

At one point a couple of iguanas got into a territorial battle and one almost ran up Jim's leg.

Also saw Lava Lizards

Sea Lions

They are good climbers...

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Weirdo Iguanas (cross between a land and a marine iguana.  They are sterile and somewhat shorter lived than either of the parents)

Blue footed Boobies

and dozens of Magnificent Frigates

At one point we saw a large number of fish feeding right on the surface of the water near the cliff.

While we were at lunch the boat relocated to Santa Fe Island.  We had a loop walk around one end of the island, starting with a sandy beach with lots of sea lions.

Species we saw on the walk includes:

Land Iguanas

Santa Fe Mocking bird, able to sit on the catus.

Lava Lizards

Galapagos Dove

And a smooth billed Ani.

We actually had a bit of a sunset this evening.