Galápagos Day 13 (afternoon) - Gardner Bay, Isla Española

After this morning's rain drenched albatross experience, the sun broke out as we headed for Gardner Bay on the north-east coast of Española. This was our last guaranteed spot for sea lions and it did not disappoint.

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 20mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000

Jo, Tui and I spent most of our time sitting beside a small tidal lagoon just behind the beach, where we found a handful of sea lion pups playing 'keepings-off' with sticks.

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/400

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/500

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/500

while the adult females lazed around on the beach,

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 20mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/250

some feeding young as big as themselves.

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 13mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000

As evening approached, the pups took to the sea and continued their frolicking there.

Galápagos Sea Lion, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 13mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800

A pair of White-cheeked Pintails flew in and landed on rocks in the lagoon.

White-cheeked Pintail, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/250

The female remained in the background but the male posed for a few portraits.

White-cheeked Pintail, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/160

White-cheeked Pintail, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/400

I love ducks - they seem to have such personality - but this will be an everlasting memory of Galápagos...

Photographing Galápagos Sea Lions, Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galápagos
Photograph courtesy of Joanne Smissen

Tomorrow - San Cristóbal