On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
lashonharangue
Sailing northwest overnight from San Cristobal we anchored off the small uninhabited island of North Seymour. North Seymour was created by seismic uplift, rather than being of volcanic origin. As a result, it is pretty flat – its highest elevation is about 90 feet. It is a popular breeding ground for several types of ocean going birds.
Swallow-tailed gulls spend most of their life flying and hunting over the open ocean, preying on squid and small fish. It is the only fully nocturnal gull in the world.
This sea lion had just come out of the water on a rock covered with a species of crab unique to the Galapagos, the Sally Lightfoot crab. I couldn’t get closer here but I have a few close ups of the crab from some other islands.
This baby sea lion climbed out at the same time. I think the mother in the previous picture may have been giving swimming lessons. It was too young to be hunting on their own.
Blue-footed boobies are so cool. They hunt at sea, usually in flocks that dive into the water together.
The same bird started grooming. I thought this might inspire a new yoga pose.
Two maturing boobie chicks nesting in the short, silver-gray Palo Santo trees. The trees are leafless in the dry season but sprout leaves quickly when the rains come.
The Great frigatebirds were nesting a couple feet off the ground in bushes. The males make a nest and then look to the sky to spot a female. They inflate their red gular sac and then spread their wings to show how attractive they are.
This guy obviously did something right.
Next Stop – Rabida Island
Baud
I was supposed to go when Covid hit. Can’t wait to have another chance.
JPL
Wow! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and the pictures are amazing.
OzarkHillbilly
Blue Footed Boobies has to be the funniest bird name ever.
eclare
Awww…the baby sea lion!
Elizabelle
Incredible birds. And the sea lions too. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Betsy
These are just amazing! What a trip that just have been.
Albatrossity
Nice shots! Everyone should get to the Galapagos once in their life, in my opinion.
I think that the chicks in the Palo Santo tree are actually frigatebird chicks; look at their bills. And Blue-footed Boobies nest on the ground, not in trees. Their cousins, the Red-footed Boobies, do nest in trees, but I’m pretty sure that the birds in your pic are frigatebirds, which are also tree-nesters
JanieM
Great pics — a wonderful adventure shared. Thank you.
lashonharangue
@Albatrossity: You must be right. I thought that was what our guide said but probably misremembered.
eachother
Last summer a Friend came over. She was wearing a Galapagos Blue Footed Booby tee shirt. I went inside and put on my Blue Footed Booby tee shirt from a visit 50 years ago. Took a picture of a couple of Boobies.
SkyBluePink
All are wonderful pics but the seal on the crab covered rock is exceptionally striking!
susanna
These bird&seal photos add to my increasing appreciation for birds and those who know birding. Many thanks for posting them here.
Mai Naem mobile
These are some awesome pics.
TriassicSands
@lashonharangue:
Look at the bills. They look like frigate-bills, not boobie-bills.
BigJimSlade
“The one-footed booby twist is recommended only for advanced practitioners.
Great pictures!
Embra
“What did the ghost say to the bee?”
–my favorite joke from age 8.