Bartolome and Santiago Islands
A day to remember! Today has been one of those days we will never forget. The Galapagos archipelago always offers incredible opportunities to enjoy nature at its best.
Even though every day is special, some days like the one we experienced today are not less than extraordinary! The most breathtaking volcanic landscapes, black lava merging with orange sand and green stripes of vegetation were just the beginning of what came later. Some of the wonderful sightings we enjoyed today include Galapagos penguins, swimming and snorkelling with some of us. A majestic Galapagos hawk feeding on fresh Great blue heron carcasses. Mother sea lions nursing newborn puppies. Galapagos Fur seals playing in spectacular lava grottos. Marine Iguanas basking in the sun. Divers spotting Hammerhead sharks… If that sounds good enough to satisfy the most demanding expectations, to top the day off, Bryde’s whales were seen both from the Zodiacs and from shore!
Just when we were praising about how outstanding and wonderful the day had been, something amazing happened. One of our youngest guests this week, Sean Kelly, spotted a creature moving under a bush. He attracted my attention to this unexpected sighting. I just could say: Woah! It was a Galapagos snake constricting an introduced domestic mouse! After many years guiding here, it is the very first time I was able to witness this uncommon event. Just minutes ago I had been talking about the titanic efforts of the Galapagos National Park Service together with the Charles Darwin Station to restore and protect the archipelago from introduced species. Lindblad Expeditions has a big part in these efforts. Santiago Island is our “adopted” island; the company has been helping with the eradication of feral pigs. Hopefully the last feral pig has been already eliminated, if we reach that goal, this will be a triumph for conservation and the first time ever an island the size of Santiago will be declared pig free.
Keep in touch, we will let you know about it. That is why this day is a memorable one. What a wonderful combination: beautiful landscapes, exciting sightings, children absorbing love and respect for nature, conservation efforts, who can ask for more to declare this day one to be remembered?
A day to remember! Today has been one of those days we will never forget. The Galapagos archipelago always offers incredible opportunities to enjoy nature at its best.
Even though every day is special, some days like the one we experienced today are not less than extraordinary! The most breathtaking volcanic landscapes, black lava merging with orange sand and green stripes of vegetation were just the beginning of what came later. Some of the wonderful sightings we enjoyed today include Galapagos penguins, swimming and snorkelling with some of us. A majestic Galapagos hawk feeding on fresh Great blue heron carcasses. Mother sea lions nursing newborn puppies. Galapagos Fur seals playing in spectacular lava grottos. Marine Iguanas basking in the sun. Divers spotting Hammerhead sharks… If that sounds good enough to satisfy the most demanding expectations, to top the day off, Bryde’s whales were seen both from the Zodiacs and from shore!
Just when we were praising about how outstanding and wonderful the day had been, something amazing happened. One of our youngest guests this week, Sean Kelly, spotted a creature moving under a bush. He attracted my attention to this unexpected sighting. I just could say: Woah! It was a Galapagos snake constricting an introduced domestic mouse! After many years guiding here, it is the very first time I was able to witness this uncommon event. Just minutes ago I had been talking about the titanic efforts of the Galapagos National Park Service together with the Charles Darwin Station to restore and protect the archipelago from introduced species. Lindblad Expeditions has a big part in these efforts. Santiago Island is our “adopted” island; the company has been helping with the eradication of feral pigs. Hopefully the last feral pig has been already eliminated, if we reach that goal, this will be a triumph for conservation and the first time ever an island the size of Santiago will be declared pig free.
Keep in touch, we will let you know about it. That is why this day is a memorable one. What a wonderful combination: beautiful landscapes, exciting sightings, children absorbing love and respect for nature, conservation efforts, who can ask for more to declare this day one to be remembered?
