Day 3 (Tuesday, May 22): Santa Cruz Island (Las Bachas Beach, Cerro Dragon)
After another night's sail, we reached our third major island, Santa Cruz. In the morning, we landed on Las Bachas Beach, probably one of the prettiest beaches we visited on this trip.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
Las Bachas Beach
Las Bachas Beach
Las Bachas Beach
Las Bachas Beach
Las Bachas Beach
Las Bachas Beach
Here I had my first close look at Lava Lizards.
Lava Lizard
I also saw and photographed my first Striated Heron (Lava Heron). In my guidebook, these are listed as separate species, but I found out, to my disappointment, that they have been lumped into one.
Striated Heron
On the beach, I saw a Fiddler Crab, one with disproportionate claws.
Fiddler Crab
But the larger, and prettier, Sally Lightfoot Crabs always grabbed people's attention.
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
It was here also I had my first close study of Marine Iguanas.
Marine Iguana
Marine Iguana
Marine Iguana
In a lagoon just off the beach, I saw a few (three to be precise) American Flamingos, the firs time I saw them in the wild. Sadly, their numbers have dwindled greatly in the Galapagos.
American Flamingo
American Flamingo
In the same lagoon and on its shores, I had excellent views of a few endemic White-cheeked Pintails.
White-cheeked Pintail
White-cheeked Pintail
White-cheeked Pintail
Of course, and Darwin's Finches. I think these that I saw on the beach were Small Ground Finches.
Darwin's Finch (Small Ground Finch?)
Darwin's Finch (Small Ground Finch?)
The afternoon's session was a hike to Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill), a rocky, low-lying hill on the northwestern side of this most populated island in the archipelago.
Cerro Dragon
Cerro Dragon
Cerro Dragon
In a lagoon near our landing spot, we found several foraging shorebirds, including a couple of Black-necked Stilts, a bird that I had seen in the United States.
Lagoon
Black-necked Stilts
Walking up the hill, we encountered many Darwin's Finches. This one that I photographed is a Medium Ground Finch, I believe.
Darwin's Finch (Medium Ground Finch?)
The stars of Cerro Dragon are, of course, the dragons -- or Land Iguanas. More colorful than their marine cousins, these reptiles blend in the sun-scorched landscape.
Land Iguana
Land Iguana
Land Iguana
The most exciting encounter for me personally was with a Galapagos Flycatcher, the only endemic flycatcher in the archipelago. I would see a few more later on the trip, but I did not know at that time and was thrilled to add this new bird to my lifelist.
Galapagos Flycatcher
Galapagos Flycatcher
Before we left, I photographed a Galapagos Carpenter Bee, the only endemic bee there, in the sand dunes.
Galapagos Carpenter Bee
Click the image below to return to the index page of Spring 2018 trip to the Galapagos:
