Galápagos
Monday, July 25, 2011: Numerous Galapagos Petrels were present this morning as we approached San Salvador (James, Santiago) Island. We landed at Puerto Egas. We walked across the peninsula, then back along the shore. Black-bellied Plover was the only new bird species. We also got to see more Galapagos Fur Seals, some newborn Galapagos Sea Lions, and more Marine Iguanas.
Once again, there were snorkelling opportunities. I took the second glass-bottom boat. Besides numerous fish, we saw Marbled and Diamond Sting-rays, White-tipped Shark, and a Pacific Green Sea Turtle resting on the bottom. When I got back to my room, I found some towels on the bed in a ray shape (they usually put new towels in some aquatic shape).
After lunch, we started heading to our last new island, the tiny Bartolomé (Bartholomew) Island.
We anchored off around 3:40. By 4, we were getting into the pangas for our visit. Those who did not want to climb to the top circumnavigated little Bartolomé. The rest of us took the boardwalks and stairs up 350 feet to the top. There's a good view from there. We noticed that one of the solar panels on the light at the top had come unhinged. The information was radioed to the ship for relay to the Ecuadorian Navy (which has charge of the light).
Upon returning to my room, I noticed the information for tomorrow's journey to Guayaquil was on my bed. We will soon be leaving the Galápagos.
My bird total for the day was 23 species, but no lifers. My trip total increased by 1 to 51 species, with 30 lifers.
Aboard the Isabela II, Galápagos