Bartolome Island

Galapagos - Bartolome Island, June 9th

Animal of the Day: Brown Pelican

Many Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) were nesting in the mangroves on Bartolome Island. We could observe them while they were fishing.

During the night, we sailed from Genovesa Island to Bartolome Island. At 6 a.m. sounded the wake-up call for the pre-breakfast landing. Early morning coffee, fruits and pastries were served in the library. After the landing, we saw a volcanic moonscape of rust-colored "spatter cones" and soft volcanic ash which made it easily into our shoes. We climbed to the summit of this lovely islet, 359 feet high. To avoid erosion through footsteps, the National Park Service had constructed a long wooden staircase of 372 steps. Sophia was highly energetic this morning and was one of the first ones on the top. The view from this highly elevated stop was truly postcard-like with golden beaches on two sides of a volcanic landscape interrupted with green mangroves.

Bartolome Island

Volcanic Landscape

Galapagos Lava Lizards (Microlophus albemarlensis)

Volcanic Landscape on Bartolome Island

Bartolome Island

MS Polaris

Bartolome Island

Zodiac Driver

MS Polaris

Sophia Steering the Zodiac

After a nice outdoor breakfast served on the sky deck, we disembarked for a dune walk. We saw White-tipped Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) so close to the beach that you could almost touch them without getting your feet wet. Their white tipped dorsal fins breached the water surface continually because they swam in such shallow water. Many Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) were nesting in the nearby mangroves. Ghost Crabs (Ocypode gaudichaudii) had left their holes everywhere on the beach which they used for hiding when we came closer. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates) were searching with their pointing red beaks through the exposed algae during the low tide. Later we saw Galapagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) swimming nearby where we were snorkeling and swimming.

The kids were playing on the sandy beach while Gisela and Heiko took a snorkeling trip around a spiky rock which stuck out 200 feet straight into the air, like a needle pointing skywards.

Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Drift Wood

Naturalists

White-tipped Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

Ghost Crabs (Ocypode gaudichaudii)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates)

Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii)

Bartolome Island

Bartolome Island Beach

At noon, we had our disembarkation and departure briefing provided by Paula. After lunch, we all had to make a nap before our last outing.

Our last outing of the voyage brought us to Santiago where we saw small holes in the lava rock near the shore which was filled with water for Galapagos Fur Seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) to play in. This island was adopted by Lindblad and almost all of the 20,000 goats were eradicated in the effort to return the island into its original status. The ever present Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) observed us motionless, only interrupted by their occasional salt-water spitting. Heiko got great shots of a Galapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) which was sitting near the shore on a lava rock. On our way back, Joe, Sophia and Alexandra were counting Lava Lizards (Microlophus albemarlensis) which were mating near the trail.