![Panama-8813 Panama-8813](https://wildsidenaturetours.com/wp-content/plugins/bb-plugin/img/pixel.png)
Galapagos Islands Adventure 2009 – Part 9
Aug 22, 2009 | by Kevin Loughlin
South Plaza is a small island. (North Plaza, visible in the background of the above image is only open for researchers.) The island’s most notable features are the giant opuntia cactus and carpet weed or sesuvium — which is red during the garua season and green in the rainy season.
The short trail on South Plaza takes visitors up hill to the edge of a cliff where Audubon’s Shearwaters and Red-billed Tropicbirds ride the winds at high speeds. The breeze coming up the cliff will quickly blow a hat off! The photo opportunities are wonderful however as Swallow-tailed Gulls slowly lift from the rocks on just by opening their wings.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/GI_2009_SP_iguana.jpg)
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/GI_2009_SP_gull-close2.jpg)
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/GI_2009_SP_stgull-close.jpg)
Interestingly, when they close their large black eye, their red eye-ring appears as an eyebrow over a large white eye! Since there are no natural predators of these gulls, I wonder why they developed this always awake appearance?
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/GI_2009_SP_lizard.jpg)
Next island… Santa Fe…
photos by Kevin Loughlin