GALAPAGOS: August 2011 (Part 3)

The red beach of Isla Rabida invited a hike to the top of the cliffs for a wonderful view and cool breeze. The beaches in the Galapagos vary widely from Rabida’s red, coarse sand to the fine, coral sand beach of Garner Bay on Española to the ‘green’ beaches of Floreana and San Cristobal.

Galapagos Doves were plentiful on Rabida, ignoring us as we walked past. So much of the island’s wildlife have no fear!

Lava Lizards climbed easily on the Giant Opuntia cactus. On Rabida the Opuntia has adapted to have spines as soft as hair rather than the sharp needle-like spines found on the other islands.

Small Ground Finches flitted about along the edge of the cliffs overlooking seabirds like Galapagos Shearwater, Nazca Boobies and Brown Pelicans.

The island had many Large Painted Locusts… in fact, during this trip we found the largest number of locusts I have ever seen in the islands!

Galapagos Flycatchers seem to like being around people. They often followed us along the trail maybe in hopes we would kick up some bugs for them!

Back at the beach a pair of Wandering Tattlers fed. One came much closer offering wonderful photo opportunities.

A brief snorkel in the cool water offered some great fish as well as water-level views of diving Blue-footed Boobies.

Underwater we found parrotfish, garden eels, surgeonfish, sergeant majors and much more!