Galápagos Day 10 (evening) - Isla Rábida

Isla Rábida is a small island a few kilometres south of Isla Santiago, just a short cruise from our morning stop at Sombrero Chino.

Marine Iguanas were hanging around on the red sand beach and the red cliffs. Their novelty was wearing off but it was still hard to resist them.

Marine Iguana, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/320

There's a lagoon where, apparently, there are often flamingos. A quick inspection failed to find any large pink birds

Lagoon, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Photograph courtesy of Joanne Smissen

but the short loop walk across a small peninsula did reveal mockingbirds, finches and flycatchers

Galápagos Mockingbird, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800

Galápagos Flycatcher, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/250

Medium Ground Finch, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000

and Prickly Pear Cactus clinging precariously to the red cliffs.

Prickly Pear Cactus, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 180mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/200

I found this mockingbird hunting in a shrub back at the beach.

Galápagos Mockingbird, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/160

and it did not take long for it to find food.

Galápagos Mockingbird, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/160

We walked to the other end of the beach

Me walking on the red sand beach, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Photograph courtesy of Dave Clark

and waited under some spectacular red cliffs for the pangas to pick us up.

Cliffs on Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/400

Sally Lightfoot Crabs were scuttling about on the rocks but this one stayed still long enough for one shot in the fading light

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 150mm, ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/200

and, of course, the sunset...

Tip Top III, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 82.5mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/4000

Brown Pelican, Isla Rábida, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/800

Tomorrow - Black Turtle Cove on Isla Santa Cruz