As soon as we were back on the boat after this morning's panga ride at Punta Vicente Roca, we weighed anchor and cruised across Bolivar Channel to Isla Fernandina. We quickly picked up a 'passenger' with this female Magnificent Frigatebird riding the air waves above the boat most of the way across the channel, providing some great photographic opportunities from the top deck.
The whole island of Fernandina is a volcanic cone with its lava flows extending out to the sea (as can be seen in this NASA satellite image).
The usual 3-course lunch was served as we anchored at Punta Espinoza but a few of us ate quickly so we could take in the photographic opportunities from the deck. White-vented Storm-petrels again danced on the water surface near the boat. They were becoming a common site after meal times and we surmised that they were feeding on the tiny fat globules and food particles coming from the boat as the dishes were being washed.
We waited out the storm then spent more than an hour snorkelling along the rocky shore accompanied by turtles, cormorants and sea lions before returning to the boat for a quick shower and change for our walk onshore. The 'dry landing' was a bit misleading because despite stepping out of the pangas onto solid rock, the trail crossed over an inlet almost immediately and with the extreme high tide we were forced to wade through thigh-deep water. The slight inconvenience was soon forgotten as we arrived on the other side to a mess of iguanas.
Yes, 'mess' is the collective noun for iguanas (according to wiktionary) and, in the case of Marine Iguanas, the adjectival collective noun is highly appropriate as they seem to treat each other as much like the rocks as other living things. As we had found at previous locations, they tolerated (more like ignored) humans which allowed for some nice close-ups shots.
So, for the next hour, there was a lot of kneeling and lying down to get the best angles and mugshots of these wonderful animals...
some interesting group shots
and some close-up portraits.
The iguanas also act as basking sites for Galápagos Lava Lizards.
The rocky shore was not just home to reptiles as we also found our fair share of birds
I am used to photographing oystercatchers in Australia and New Zealand where I usually cannot get closer than 30 metres and end up shooting with 600mm worth of lens. This bird was so intent on hunting crabs that it passed within 4 or 5 metres of me and I had to quickly change to the 70-200mm zoom.
Similarly, these Flightless Cormorants allowed close enough approach to use just the zoom.
The trail was well enough sign-posted to prevent approaching too close.
including this mother and pup
that spent a long time frolicking in a shallow inlet behind the beach.
The recent lava flows were being colonised by Lava Cactus.
As can be seen from the images above, the light was highly variable. Heavy storm clouds continued to pass across the north-west sky, while the east remained clear with blue sky. These conditions made for some great landscape opportunities whenever I could tear myself away from the wildlife.
Sometimes the light was so contrasty that it just begged for a black and white.
There was even a nice little half to one metre swell rolling in.
The last shot of the day was just before sunset,
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| Magnificent Frigatebird, Bolivar Channel, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/640 |
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| Magnificent Frigatebird, Bolivar Channel, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/250 |
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| Magnificent Frigatebird, Bolivar Channel, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/250 |
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| Magnificent Frigatebird, Bolivar Channel, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800 |
The whole island of Fernandina is a volcanic cone with its lava flows extending out to the sea (as can be seen in this NASA satellite image).
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| View of Fernandina, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 50mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/500 (stitched panorama) |
The usual 3-course lunch was served as we anchored at Punta Espinoza but a few of us ate quickly so we could take in the photographic opportunities from the deck. White-vented Storm-petrels again danced on the water surface near the boat. They were becoming a common site after meal times and we surmised that they were feeding on the tiny fat globules and food particles coming from the boat as the dishes were being washed.
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| White-fronted Storm-petrel, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/500 |
A Green Turtle and Flightless Cormorant surfaced nearby hinting at the promise of things to come.
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| Green Turtle, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/200 |
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| Flightless Cormorant, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/500 |
Heavy storm clouds approached, creating fantastic light for a black and white landscape.
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| Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800 |
We waited out the storm then spent more than an hour snorkelling along the rocky shore accompanied by turtles, cormorants and sea lions before returning to the boat for a quick shower and change for our walk onshore. The 'dry landing' was a bit misleading because despite stepping out of the pangas onto solid rock, the trail crossed over an inlet almost immediately and with the extreme high tide we were forced to wade through thigh-deep water. The slight inconvenience was soon forgotten as we arrived on the other side to a mess of iguanas.
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 26mm, ISO 400, f/13, 1/20 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 50mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/100 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 36mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/800 |
So, for the next hour, there was a lot of kneeling and lying down to get the best angles and mugshots of these wonderful animals...
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| Jo and a mess of Marine Iguanas, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 20mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
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| Jo and Dave + Marine Iguanas, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 170mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
including wide angle shots showing the animals in their environment
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 11mm, ISO 400, f/22, 1/200 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 24mm, ISO 400, f/16, 1/160 |
some interesting group shots
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/22, 1/125 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 77.5mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/500 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 82.5mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800 |
and some close-up portraits.
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/16, 1/200 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2500 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 107.5mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/320 |
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| Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 122.5mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/640 |
The iguanas also act as basking sites for Galápagos Lava Lizards.
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| Marine Iguana + Galápagos Lava Lizard, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 92.5mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/640 |
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| Marine Iguana + Galápagos Lava Lizard, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800 |
The rocky shore was not just home to reptiles as we also found our fair share of birds
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| American Oystercatcher, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/400 |
I am used to photographing oystercatchers in Australia and New Zealand where I usually cannot get closer than 30 metres and end up shooting with 600mm worth of lens. This bird was so intent on hunting crabs that it passed within 4 or 5 metres of me and I had to quickly change to the 70-200mm zoom.
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| American Oystercatcher, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/320 |
Similarly, these Flightless Cormorants allowed close enough approach to use just the zoom.
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| Flightless Cormorant, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 140mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/250 |
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| Flightless Cormorant, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 170mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
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| Flightless Cormorant, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/400 |
The trail was well enough sign-posted to prevent approaching too close.
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| Jo photographing Flightless Cormorant Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 115mm, ISO 400, f/9, 1/640 |
The avian highlight was this Galápagos Hawk which sat in a tree behind the beach for long enough for me to change lenses and set up the tripod.
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| Galápagos Hawk, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/9, 1/800 |
A few sea lions were hanging around the beach.
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| Galápagos Sea Lion, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 50mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/250 |
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| Galápagos Sea Lion, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 39mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/200 |
including this mother and pup
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| Galápagos Sea Lion, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/10, 1/200 |
that spent a long time frolicking in a shallow inlet behind the beach.
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| Galápagos Sea Lion, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/250 |
The recent lava flows were being colonised by Lava Cactus.
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| Lava Cactus, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 20mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/320 |
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| Lava Cactus, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 13mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/40 |
As can be seen from the images above, the light was highly variable. Heavy storm clouds continued to pass across the north-west sky, while the east remained clear with blue sky. These conditions made for some great landscape opportunities whenever I could tear myself away from the wildlife.
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| Sally Lightfoot Crab, Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 19mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
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| Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 16mm, ISO 400, f/16, 1/400 |
Sometimes the light was so contrasty that it just begged for a black and white.
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| Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 16mm, ISO 800, f/11, 1/400 |
There was even a nice little half to one metre swell rolling in.
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| Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
The last shot of the day was just before sunset,
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| Punta Espinoza, Isla Fernandina, Galápagos Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 18mm, ISO 100, f/32, 1.6 sec |
then the clouds covered the western sky and it began getting dark quickly so we scurried off the beach, waded back across the inlet and headed for a well-earned dinner on board.
Tomorrow, back to Isabela
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