Our Great Adventure: Isla Espanola Day 291 06/07/2015

Isla Espanola is at the southernmost tip of archipelago. After breakfast we took the dingies and landed on Gardner Bay, a long beautiful white sandy beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. After strolling along the beach, watching out for very cheeky hooded mockingbirds, we snorkelled in the shallow waters. Swimming around the islands here is like being in an aquarium with the variety of fish, the only difference being you are in the water with them. We saw at least one manta ray on the sea bed to add to the different variety of species that we've seen so far. It rained whilst we were snorkelling. A strange sensation being under the water as the rain drops hit the surface. Back in the dingies we headed over to a large rocky outcrop and jumped (or slid) into the water and swam around the rocky shore seeing yet more species of fish. After lunch back on the boat we headed over to Punta Suarez where there is a huge colony of waved albatross. Marine iguanas were in abundance on the beach and rocks, staring towards the sun soaking in the rays. You had to be very careful and watch were you put your feed to avoid treading on them. As we walked along the trail we came across several albatross, not realising that a little further on there were hundreds, some of which were engaged in their rather comical courting display. The albatross rely on southeast winds to transport them to feeding areas. They can weigh up to 5kg with a wingspan of 2.4m. In the air they are very graceful, landing and taking off was quite a different matter. The ground was littered with abandoned eggs. The birds mate for life and apparently is one of the pair fails to return to the nesting area it's mate abandons the egg. Other reasons include when they have moved the egg and it has got damaged or a lone male mates with female and she abandons the egg. We also saw a Galapagos hawk sat high up on it's nest. Over on the cliffs was a blowhole where seawater is forced c20m into the air. Nasca boobies were nesting out near the cliffs, with lava lizards scurrying between them, and a few pairs of blue footed boobies were nested near by. It's amazing to see so many different species all living together such close proximity. Back on board the Beluga we had dinner and set sail for Santa Cruz. The sea was quite rough that and we nearly fell out of bed on several occasions!