Trying to capture images from a Panga transfer boat takes some practice. 1. Find you subject. 2. Attempt to get focus in. 3. Judge the speed of boat bobbing. 4. Time your shot as the Panga pauses in its movement up or down. 5. Hit the shutter.
Image created of a pair of beautiful Swallow-tailed Gulls. This species was a life list addition for me.
According to my "Wildlife of the Galapagos" field guide they are the only nocturnal gull in the world. We watched them flying beside our ship at night as we navigated to our next anchorage.
Image created on Isla Santiago, Galapagos, Ecuador on April 10, 2019. Cropped for composition.
Tags: Avian Buccaneer's Bay Ecuador Galapagos Archipelego Galapagos Islands Isla Santiago Preening South America Spring Swallow-tailed Gull
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The Waved Albatross 'Phoebastria irrorata' (life list addition) is an impressive seabird. It has a wingspan of 2.36 meters (7.7feet) and weighs 3-4 kg (6.6-8.8 lbs).
The Waved Albatross has traditionally bred only on Isla Española, Galapagos (i.e. endemic to the Galapagos) but a few pairs have started to breed on Isla La Plata off the coast of Ecuador.
Image created on Apr 17, 2019 at Punta Suarez, Isla Española, Galapagos, Ecuador.
There was a distracting blur of a distant out of focus bird in the frame so I removed it in Photoshop as this was the only image I had of the bird in flight with an open bill.
Tags: Avian Ecuador Galapagos Galapagos Archipelego Galapagos Islands Inflight Isla Española Open Bill Punta Suarez South America Spring Waved Albatross
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Nesting material often was highly sought after in the Galapagos. Almost all bird species seemed to find it easier to steal nesting material rather than find their own.
In this shot the Red-footed Booby on the right attempts to grab a stick from the bird on left while it was flying by. If you look closely you will see the right bird's foot on the breast of the one on the left.
The original bird won the tug of war in the end.
Image created on April 20, 2019 at Playa Darwin, Isla Genovesa, Galapagos, Ecuador. Cropped on both sides for composition.
Tags: Avian Carrying stick Ecuador Galapagos Galapagos Archipelego Galapagos Islands Inflight Isla Genovesa Mid-air battle Nest Material Playa Darwin Red-footed Booby South America Spring
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Galapagos Fur Seals were once hunted for their fur. They are not true 'earless' seals (i.e. Family Phocidae) but rather a type of 'eared seal' like the Galapagos Sea Lion. They could more appropriately be called the Galapagos Fur 'Sea Lion'.
In any event this image was taken while I was again bobbing around in a panga boat. The little youngster had been sleeping but looked up briefly.
Image created on April 10, 2019 on Ilsa Santiago, Galapagos, Ecuador. Cropped for composition.
Tags: Buccaneer's Bay Ecuador Galapagos Archipelego Galapagos Fur Seal Galapagos Islands Isla Santiago Mammal Marine Mammal South America Spring
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The Lava Gull ((aka Dusky Gull) is reported to be the rarest gull in the world. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and the population is estimated to be only 1000 birds in total. This was another life list addition.
Despite its rarity we were able to see a handful of individuals, often close up, during our trip.
It is a striking-looking gull with its dark grey head and other, lighter grey feathers elsewhere.
Image created on April 20, 2019 on Isla Genovesa, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Tags: Avian Ecuador Galapagos Galapagos Archipelego Galapagos Islands Isla Genovesa Playa Darwin Preening South America Spring
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