North Seymour, Galapagos Islands - Day 1

Not long after this first day in Galapagos we were already convinced that the way to get the most out of a visit here is to have Greg Estes as our guide. Later in the week we eventually learned there are 500 registered guides in Galapagos National Park, and Greg is the one who has been hired by photography crews from BBC and Discovery Channel, and groups like The Nature Conservancy and the best universities when they visit Galapagos. Greg and his wife Thalia Grant have been described as the world experts on Darwin in Galapagos and published a book by that name in 2009. He speaks knowledgeably about the latest research, the wildlife, plants and geology of the islands.


A scientist, naturalist, and photographer, holding a biology degree with honors from the U. of London, Greg has been doing research and guiding in Galapagos since 1982. Even more important for making the trip especially enjoyable as well as memorable, he is fun to be with - gregarious, good-natured, personable, patient, and an excellent story-teller with a warm sense of humor and a great laugh. He is awesome as a guide.  

Sagitta

This was the first day of a seven day adventure cruise in the Galapagos Islands. Greg met us at the airport in Baltra, for a short bus ride to our boat where we ate lunch while our luggage was loaded onto the boat along with food for a week for 16 guests, guide and crew. The Sagitta is a lovely yacht and will take us 500 miles through the archipelago over the next seven days.


After a quick transfer to North Seymour Island aboard the Sagitta, we made a dry landing from our panga onto lava rocks. 

The first bird we identified was a Swallow Tailed Gull in the water next to our boat, and another on the rocks near the trail. 

Swallow Tailed Gull

Magnificent and Frigate Birds soared above, and within a few feet we had to step over one of what would be many Sea Iguanas we would encounter throughout the week.  We hiked through endemic Palo Santo, a small tree found only in Galapagos, which had no leaves in late December.

We saw Blue Footed Boobies, both adults and chicks - several of them on or right next to the trail - as well as a Galapagos Dove, Yellow Warbler, and our first finch, a Small Ground Finch.

Blue Footed Booby on trail

The famous blue feet

Galapagos Dove

Male Magnificent Frigate Birds in mating display are very flamboyant with their inflated red throat pouches.

Magnificent Frigate Bird (male in mating display)

This Galapagos Land Iguana on North Seymour was a rich golden color. Later we noticed that these and most of the other animals vary in appearance from island to island.

Galapagos Land Iguana

Sea Lions lounged and posed on the sand as we completed our loop across the island towards the end of the afternoon.

NEXT POST: Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands - Day 2