Fernandina was today at its most spectacular, so much so that all the naturalists were moved to see the island restored to its former glory after the tough times endured during El Niño. The snorkeling before the walk was rewarding, and some of the highlights included mating Port Jackson sharks, many green sea turtles as well as marine iguanas feeding on the algae beds below the surface. A small Zodiac ride took us along the coastline to find Galapagos penguins, dazzling in their new plumage after having undergone their "catastrophic moult," and large colonies of flightless cormorants. During the walk, large tangles of iguanas covered the "pahoehoe" lava flows, and newly born sea lions waved to us as we passed. Two exceptional sightings this afternoon were a Galapagos hawk catching and devouring a lava lizard, and a pair of octopuses mating in a tidal pool!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 20 Jul 1999
From the Polaris in the Galapagos, 7/20/1999, National Geographic Polaris
- Aboard the National Geographic Polaris
- Galápagos
Sign Up for Daily Expedition Reports
Fields with an asterisk (*) are required.
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.