Our last full day in the Galapagos opened with what turned out to be my favorite expedition, a simple, flat walk along a beach below tall cliffs, along a trail to a lagoon. Then we waded through the lagoon, to the lava rocks alongside the beach.
It wasn't long, but it was spectacular. It was marvelous because of the birds. So many seabirds. A wet landing onto a coralline beach led to wonderment as birds flew, nested, and rested everywhere we looked.
There were a couple of Blue Footed Boobies, but mostly there were Red Footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigate Birds puffed up with the males showing off their red mating skin all puffed up (see photos below), Nazca Boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, petrels, and others.
I loved all the birds, but there is something about a puffed-up Frigate Bird that is like nothing I've ever seen before. It's amazing what males will do to attract a mate.
The cliffs of the caldera were teeming with birds. The flats were teeming with birds. The lava around the lagoon was teeming with birds. It is otherwordly.
The lagoon was separated from the Bay by large lava cliffs where the birds made their homes. Birds were in the low trees and brush.
There were birds everywhere we looked. There were some sea lions both on the beach and playing in a nearby lagoon. I saw black crabs and a lava black iguana, but mostly birds.
(Editor's Note: So, it's not clear. Were there birds? Blogger: Just making sure people get it.)
I snapped a ton of photos, and many of them came out quite well. It helps that the birds have no fear of predators, even humans, so you can get close. My amazing camera helps too, as my lightweight Canon zooms from 21-1365, allowing for awesome close-ups without having to carry multiple heavy lens or change lens.
Anyhow, I'm kind of at a loss for words to describe such a magical place, so I will let the photos tell the story.
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