Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)

The Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. As suggested by the name, adults always have red feet, but the colour of the plumage varies. They are powerful and agile fliers, but they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings.  We were lucky enough to see them very close up as some young birds decided to hitch a ride on our boat!  You can see in the photos below how some birds still have the dull juvenile feet where the one closest to me is changing into his adult red feet!

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Red-footed Boobies have a pretty large range geographically around the world just north & south of the equator.  In the Galapagos, they are easily seen at Punta Pitt on San Cristobal.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-FOOTED BOOBIES

Wikipedia

Birdlife

National Geographic

Audubon

American Bird Conservancy

VIDEOS

See them in Belize.

And the Galapagos!

This video filmed in Australia shows the difference between adult & juvenile feet very nicely.

 

 

 

Birding By Sea – A Day Trip To Punta Pitt, Galapagos

Now I am the first to admit I am not a fan of small boats due to being prone to sea-sickness but if you want to get to Punta Pitt and see 3 species of Boobies, Frigatebirds and more you have to do a day trip in a boat.  These trips don’t go out every day so I recommend checking out several tour operators when you first arrive, book your tour and then you can fit in other land tours around this trip.  The tour is supposed to be a complete circle around the Island of San Cristobal but in our case they only went to Punta Pitt and back.  I didn’t care because Punta Pitt was my target and I am not really a snorkeler.  Lunch is provided but they only serve a seafood dish and rice.  I don’t eat seafood so my husband ended up with a double portion and I got some bread rolls.  This was actually a blessing in disguise because when we came back via Kicker Rock, the sea was so rough I would have lost the lunch!.

We booked at Dava Tours and it’s called the 360 Tour.

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This is a cruise ship that travels around the Galapagos Islands.DSCN0944

We headed to Punta Pitt passing some very spectacular scenery.  DSCN0949 DSCN0950 DSCN0955 DSCN0958

We spent a couple hours cruising around Punta Pitt going up close but not docking or getting off the boat.  This wasn’t a problem as we could see all the birds easily enough from the boat.  DSCN0966 DSCN0968 DSCN0970 DSCN0972 DSCN0986 DSCN0988 IMG_2516 IMG_2517 IMG_2514 IMG_2527 IMG_2530 IMG_2538 IMG_2543 IMG_2549 IMG_2569 IMG_2570 IMG_2572 IMG_2575 IMG_2577 IMG_2582 IMG_2584 IMG_2585 IMG_2594 IMG_2616 IMG_2617 IMG_2630 IMG_2631 IMG_2641 IMG_2644 IMG_2647 IMG_2648 IMG_2650 IMG_2660 IMG_2665 IMG_2670 IMG_2691 IMG_2698 IMG_2702 IMG_2738 IMG_2739 IMG_2743 IMG_2757 IMG_2759 IMG_2774 IMG_2781 IMG_2804 IMG_2811 IMG_2815 IMG_2823

BOATING WITH BOOBIES!

When we left Punta Pitt, we picked up a few hitch-hikers.  Some adventurous young Red-footed Boobies landed on the boat for a joy ride!  It was pretty cool to watch them having fun as the boat sped over the waves, rocking them as they tried to hang on with their webbed feet.  If they lost their balance, they would fly off, circle around the boat and land again on that rail with passengers cheering them on!  It was awesome and the highlight of the trip for me!

DSCN0992 DSCN0994 DSCN0998 DSCN1002 DSCN1005 DSCN1014 DSCN1017 DSCN1020 DSCN1023 DSCN1025 IMG_2738We stopped for lunch at a beach halfway back to town but before Kicker Rock and we were able to jump in for a swim.  I should caution that it is really hard to get up the ladder back on the boat!

Like I said, Kicker Rock was meant to be a snorkel spot but the sea was so rough we didn’t go in.  We did see other people snorkeling from other boats.  Our hitch-hiking Boobies had left us by this time but there are still other birds to see on Kicker Rock.

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Arriving back in town.DSCN1048 DSCN1049 DSCN1050 DSCN1052

Here you see the boat we were on.  It looks more like a dive boat with the seating platform in the middle.  I would have preferred a boat with proper seats as it was kind of uncomfortable.  DSCN1053 DSCN1054

Since I didn’t eat lunch, I was happy to see a hot dog stand near the pier!  They were good hot dogs too!DSCN1055

Over all despite me being a reluctant boater; it was a good trip.  Mission accomplished and we saw all the target birds!

Birding On Foot – Interpretive Center & Walk To Punta Carola

This is a very easy birding walk to do if you are staying on San Cristobal preferably in the morning before it gets too hot. Get a taxi to drop you at the Interpretive Center and have a look at the exhibits.

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Keep your eye out for birds as you walk along the footpaths.DSCN0905 DSCN0907 DSCN0908

There are a couple rest stops between the Interpretive Center and Punta Carola Beach.DSCN0910 DSCN0911

Look down for iguanas and up for birds!  These trails are good for Darwin’s finches.

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Iguanas swimming in the sea.  Also be careful about sitting on the rocks on this beach, iguanas could be sitting on them!IMG_2486 IMG_2490 DSCN0915 IMG_2491 IMG_2495 IMG_2497 IMG_2498 IMG_2499

When you are ready to go back to the town, follow the narrow trail along the sea and you will end up at the far end of town where you can keep walking or get a taxi if it’s too hot.IMG_2510 DSCN0917 DSCN0919 DSCN0920 DSCN0921 DSCN0922

Nazca Booby (Sula granti)

The Nazca Booby (Sula granti) was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Masked Booby but is now recognized as a separate species. Nazca Boobies are known for practicing obligate siblicide.  Mothers lay two eggs, several days apart. If both eggs hatch, the elder chick pushes its sibling out of the nest area, leaving it to die of thirst or cold. The parent booby cannot intervene and the younger chick inevitably dies. Two eggs are laid so that if one gets destroyed or eaten, or the first chick dies soon after hatching, the second egg will produce an offspring.

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Nazca Boobies have a smaller range than Blue-footed Boobies but the Galapagos is the best place to look for them, especially Punta Pitt where you can see all 3 of the Galapagos boobies.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT NAZCA BOOBIES

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Neotropical Birds

VIDEO

This video has a sad element to it in regards to the siblicide.  I usually try to avoid such videos but just about every video online has it and this one is produced by Nat Geo and is the best quality.

 

 

Hotel Review: Mar Azul, San Cristobal, Galapagos

For the birder on a budget, the island of San Cristobal is an ideal choice not only because of a highly respectable bird species list but also because of decent budget accommodation.  The Hotel Mar Azul is an excellent choice for the budget birder and is easily booked via most of the online hotel portals.

You can walk here from the airport if you only have a backpack but it does get hot around mid-day.  Otherwise a taxi is around $2-3.  You can’t miss it, look for the bright blue building on the left.

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The rooms in the back courtyards are nice and quiet.  The AC is a welcome relief from the intense heat.  During our short stay, we came back after lunch to rest until it started cooling off except on the day we had the boat trip.  There is a water fountain, coffee & tea station in the dining room and a good cooked breakfast is included in the rates.  One receptionist – Claudia speaks English and is happy to help organize anything you need.  The wifi is pretty good too!

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The dining room has some nice artwork and a view of the town and harbour.DSCN0898 DSCN0895 DSCN0901

A cooked breakfast is included.DSCN0897 DSCN0896

You really can’t go wrong here, the price is right, rooms are clean and it’s a short walk to town and the beachfront.

Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii)

The Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) is a marine bird in the family Sulidae, which includes ten species of long-winged seabirds. Blue-footed boobies belong to the genus Sula, which comprises six species of boobies. It is easily recognizable by its distinctive bright blue feet, which is a sexually selected trait. Males display their feet in an elaborate mating ritual by lifting their feet up and down while strutting before the female.

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Although they have a large range along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru, Blue-footed Boobies are almost synonymous with the Galapagos.  It’s a rare tourist, birder or not who doesn’t come home with at least one hat, artwork or “I love Boobies” t-shirt!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES

Wikipedia

Birdlife

National Geographic

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Galapagos Conservancy

Neotropical Birds

Audubon

VIDEOS

There’s no shortage of Blue-footed Booby videos but I like these mini-docos that show the mating dance.

LOL, I never thought I would feel sorry for an iguana!

 

 

A Stroll Around Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the main town on the island of San Cristobal.  It is small and walkable from most hotels although taxis are also available very cheaply.  There are plenty of hotels here to accommodate any budget and most of them can be booked online either with the hotel’s website or any online travel agency.  Don’t be too worried about location as everything is pretty much a 5-10 minute walk from anywhere else in town.  The main street alongside the beach has lots of cafes, tour operators, dive shops and souvenir shops.

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The main church in townDSCN0858 DSCN0863 DSCN0869 DSCN0868 DSCN0872 DSCN0865

Feel free to sit down and relax but don’t be surprised if a sea lion sits next to you!DSCN0867 DSCN0866 DSCN0860 DSCN0859 DSCN0873

I love the artwork scattered around town on buildings, walls and even bridges.DSCN0874 DSCN0893

Shopping is a favourite activity in the eveningDSCN0892 DSCN0891

Calypso became our favourite restaurant for dinner.  The food was great, not expensive, they take credit cards and you can’t beat the location!  Try the 4 cheese pizza, yummy!DSCN0876 DSCN0877 DSCN0875

Sea lions will be lazing around everywhere, no flash photography allowed.DSCN0889 DSCN0885 DSCN0882 DSCN0879 DSCN0878 DSCN0890

This is the town around lunch time. Some shops will be open but most aren’t.  We found a small burger joint to have lunch in, then took a siesta as it was around 38c!DSCN0923 DSCN0924 DSCN0926 DSCN0927 DSCN0928 DSCN0929

More art!DSCN0940 DSCN1054 DSCN1055 DSCN1056 DSCN1057

Airport departure hall.  Lines are much shorter going back to the mainland.DSCN1058 DSCN1059

Guayaquil To San Cristobal, Galapagos

You may be surprised to see a check in time of 3 hours prior to a Galapagos and think “They must be kidding!”  It’s a domestic flight, the planes are relatively small and security doesn’t take THAT long!  They aren’t kidding.

It’s not the check in or the security.  It’s the quarantine inspection.  You have to have your bags inspected and pay the $20 INGALA Tourist Control Card fee before they will check you in.  This isn’t mentioned and most of us got caught out and sent back to the quarantine counter.  This is where the queues get built up.  They type out the INGALA card individually, there are usually 3 planes departing roughly the same time and everyone has to do this procedure.  Allow at least an hour as the line moves slowly.  Once you have your INGALA card and your bag has passed quarantine, THEN your airline will check you in.

If you don’t have cash USD, there are several ATMs in the airport.  Make sure you have the $100 cash per person to enter the Galapagos once you land (and yes, there will be another long line!

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After you pass security, you then pass through a gift shop before entering the departure area.  I was tempted by a coffee table book with a Guayaquil Macaw on it but the book was heavy and pricey-2 no-nos for budget travelers.DSCN0828 DSCN0829

Annoyingly, gates are only announced about 40 minutes before departure so we had to hang around the departure board waiting to know what gate we had to go to.  Luckily it’s a fairly small airport.DSCN0830 DSCN0831 DSCN0832

This plane only had economy class for the 2 hour flight.DSCN0833

Goodbye Guayaquil…………………..DSCN0834 DSCN0835

…………………….Hello Galapagos!DSCN0837

The plane disembarks from both doors so don’t take a seat in the middle of the plane or you will be last off the plane and last in line to pay the Galapagos entry fee.  This line moves very slowly, even more so if two planes arrive close together.  DSCN0841 DSCN0842 DSCN0843

Once you finally get through, you can either take a taxi or walk to the town.  We chose to walk as the distance was short and all downhill but it was pretty hot.

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Some nice graffiti art to admire while walking.DSCN0845 DSCN0846

Walk about 10 minutes to the main part of town.  Our hotel, Mar Azul is on the left, the blue awning.DSCN0847 DSCN0848

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae. With a length of 89–114 centimetres (35–45 in) it is the largest species of frigatebird.  They are an iconic bird of the Galapagos and you can’t miss them with their bright red pouch that kind of resembles a heart.  They puff them out to attract females.  Who wouldn’t want a mate with a “big heart”?

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Magnificent Frigatebirds have quite a large range along the coastlines of the Americas including the Galapagos and Caribbean Islands.  They are especially a highlight of the Galapagos Islands, featured on both cruises and land-based tours.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

Audubon

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Huffington Post

VIDEOS

Learn how they use their red throat pouch to attract a mate.

Nice footage filmed in the Galapagos