Early this morning, we circumnavigated Roca Redonda in the northwest of the Galapagos Archipelago. To our delight we found two false killer whales, at least five Bryde's whales and a small pod of bottle-nosed dolphins. After breakfast we took a Zodiac cruise along the coast of northern Isabela Island and spotted a huge manta ray and several "mola mola" (pelagic sunfish).
In the afternoon, at Punta Espinosa, we took pictures of this nesting American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus galapagensis). This shore bird is found mainly along rocky coasts and beaches, and is an endemic subspecies of the Galapagos Islands. It is a graceful black and white bird with a brilliant red bill the color of red coral. Oystercatchers have laterally compressed bills that they use to open bivalves and sea urchins. They are usually found in pairs, and are monogamous.
