 A view of the Baltra airport from the front. This was originally a U.S. Army air base used for the defense of the Panama Canal during World War II. |
 We sailed on the Tip Top IV. This 115 ft. yacht turned one year old during our trip. |
 The Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus) is one of the rarest gulls in the world. There are only an estimated 400 pairs and the entire population lives in the Galápagos Islands. This one landed behind me on the Tip Top IV while I was standing on the upper deck. It loudly announced its presence. I guess he really wanted his picture taken. |
 Galápagos Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis thagus) can be seen on numerous islands in the archipelago. This one was on Mosquera. |
 Lava Lizards are a common sight on many islands. There are seven species. This is a Santa Cruz female (Tropidurus albemarlensis) on Mosquera. |
 The Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) is the most ubiquitous animal in the Galápagos Islands. Every island has massive populations. This was a small group among the multitude on Mosquera. |
 The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. They are found on all of the islands in the archipelago, although they differ in size from island to island. This one was resting on a tree stump on Mosquera. |
 The Galápagos Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus wollebacki) is the second most ubiquitous animal found on the shores of nearly every island. Although they are smaller than the California Sea Lion we're accustomed to seeing in the United States, they are still massive creatures, weighing up to 550 lbs. (250kg). This group was sprawled across Mosquera. |
 This pair of Swallowtail Gulls (Creagrus furcatus) was shading their chick from the sun on Genovesa near Darwin Bay. |
 Galápagos Flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris) at Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz. |
 Like the Marine Iguana, the Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. This one was on North Seymour. There is another species, Conolophus pallidus, that is only found on Santa Fe. |
 The Galápagos Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa darwini) is one of the principal pollenators in the Galápagos Islands. This one was busy on Genovesa near Darwin Bay. |
 A Painted Locust (Schistocerca melanocera) resting on one of a deck chair on the Tip Top IV. |
 The famous Post Office Barrel on Floreana. As sailors of the 18th century did, visitors place post cards in the barrel for future visitors to deliver to recipients who live near them. |
 The Lava Heron (Butorides sundevalli) is an endemic species to the Galápagos Islands. This one was wading at James Bay on Santiago. |
 The other heron species found in the archipelago is the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). This heron is common throughout North and Central America. This one was perched on a red mangrove on Marielus Island. |
 The Galápagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands and is the only species living on the equator. This colony was on the rocky shore of Marielus Island. |
 The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is common species throughtout the American continents. This one was feeding on the beach on Gardner Island. |
 The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is another common species throughout the American continents that resides in the Galápagos Islands. This one was scurrying on the beach on Gardner Island. |
 The Galápagos Hermit Crab (Calcinus explorator) is an endemic species of hermit crab. This one was on the beach on Gardner Island. |
 The Blue-Footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) is one of three boobies that reside in the Galápagos Islands. This pair was on North Seymour. The male of all three species display by spreading his wings, lifting his feet, and whistling. The female, if interested, will respond with a honking sound. |
 The Nazca Booby (Sula granti) is another booby species that reside in the Galápagos Islands. This parent is feeding the adolescent chick near Prince Philip's Steps on Genovesa. |
 The Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula) is the third booby species that resides in the Galápagos Islands. Of the three species, the red-footed booby is the only one that nests in trees. This parent and adolescent chick were on Genovesa near Darwin Bay. |
 The Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) is a common tropical seabird found throughout the world. This pair was perched on a shore cliff at Punta Vincente Roca on Isabella. |
 The Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. This one was drying its wings at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina. |
 The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a common wading bird that can be found in the Galápagos Islands. This one was on the beach at Punta Cormorant on Santa Maria. |
 The Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. This one was spotted near Prince Philip's Steps on Genovesa with a small bird it caught for dinner. |
 The population of Galápagos Fur Seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) is much smaller than the Galápagos Sea Lion population in the archipelago. It is the smallest of all the pinnipeds. It is also the only fur seal that breeds in tropical waters. These were sunning on the coastal rocks of North Seymour. |
 The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) has a wide distribution throughout the world's tropical seas. Males have purple feathers in the scapular area and the females have red eye rings. The male inflates the red sac on his chest and spreads his wings when displaying for a mate. This pair was settling together on Genovesa near Darwin Bay. The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is also found in the Galápagos. The males have purple feathers instead of green and the females have blue eye rings instead of red. |
 The Galápagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) is an edemic species. This one was preening on Santiago near James Bay. |
 The Galápagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) is an endemic species and is one of the few predatory birds on the islands. This one was perched on a light beacon at Punta Suarez on Española. |
 The Waved Albatross (Diomedea irrorata) is the largest Galápagos bird. They spend January through March at sea along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. Since we were visiting in late March, we were lucky to see them returning. We saw a large group floating far off the coast and this one really early bird that was scouting the Punta Suarez site on Española. |
 The Galápagos Mockingbird (Nesomimus parvulus) is one of two mockingbirds in the archipelago. Both are endemic species. This Galápagos Mockingbird was on the ground on Santiago near James Bay. |
 The Hood Mockingbird (Nesomimus macdonaldi) is the other mockingbird of the Galápagos. As the name implies, it is only found on Española (Hood). This one was perched at Punta Suarez. |
 This Galápagos Dark-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) was perched near Urbina Bay on Isabella. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. |
 This Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) also was perched near Urbina Bay on Isabella. They are found throughout North America and northern South America. |
 A Common Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens), one of the thirteen endemic finches in the Galápagos Islands, perched on Rabida. |
 A Small Tree Finch (Camarhynchus parvulus) perched on Rabida. |
 A Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) perched in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz. |
 A Large Ground Finch (Geospiza magnirostris) perched in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz. |
 A couple of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding in a lagoon on Santa Cruz near Cerro Dragon. |
 There are eleven subspecies of tortoises in the Galápagos Islands. This is a Santa Cruz Tortoise (Geochelone nigra nigrita) at Rancho Premicia on Santa Cruz. |
 School of Golden Rays (Rhinoptera steindachneri) |
 Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata bissa) |
 This Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) was swimming near Punta Vincente Roca on Isabella. |
 This Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia cactaceae) was growing on Santiago near James Bay. It is one of three cactus species found in the archipelago. |
 The Lava Cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus) is one of three cactus species found in the Galápagos Islands. These were growing at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina. |
 The Poison Apple (Hippomane mancinella) is extremely poisonous to humans. Tortoises eat them frequently. This tree was growing on Isabella near Urbina Bay. |
 These Beach Morning Glories (Ipomea pes-caprae) were growing at James Bay on Santiago. |
 Lava Morning Glories (Ipomea habeliana) are the only endemic species in the Galápagos Islands. These were growing on Genovesa near Darwin Bay. |
 These Palo Santos or Incense Trees (Bursera graveolens) were growing on Rabida. |
 These Palo Santos were growing on North Seymour. While they are the same species, the drastic difference in appearance due to the different environments is striking. |
 This is the flower of the Galápagos Cotton (Gossypium darwinii), an endemic species. |
 This is a cluster of Black Mangroves (Avicennia germinans) and White Mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) on Rabida. These, as well as the Red Mangrove (Rhizophoria mangle), are common throughout the archipelago. |
 Red Mangroves along the banks of an inlet of Elizabeth Bay on Marielus Island. |
 Beach where we landed at Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz. |
 Sunset between Daphne Major (left) and Daphne Minor (right) |
 Blowhole at Punta Suarez on Española |
 These lava dykes formed when lava was pushed up through the cracks of previous rock formations at Punta Vincente Roca on Isabella. |
 This pahoehoe lava flow, which filled the bay, is from an eruption that occurred in the early 1900s. |