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Today, pictures from valued commenter Albatrossity.
Our time in Ecuador continued with some days in the Galápagos Archipelago. We visited tow of the easternmost (therefore oldest) islands, San Cristobal (aka Chatham) and Española (aka Hood). San Cristobal is a populated island and the home of the Galápagos provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno; Espanola is smaller and uninhabited. I’ll send Alain 2 sets of five pictures from San Cristobal, and then some from Española. Enjoy!
Taken on 2019-05-30 00:00:00
San Cristobal Island, Galápagos
This is a San Cristobal (Chatham) Mockingbird, one of the endemic species that helped Darwin think about evolution on these islands. Even when still on the Beagle, he recognized that birds from different islands were different, and that helped him break out of any notions based on the Biblical creation story. As you may know, the finches were not identified as species of related finches until he got back to England and turned those specimens over to John Gould.
Taken on 2019-05-30 00:00:00
San Cristobal Island, Galápagos
The marine iguana is also one of the iconic endemic species of the Galápagos. This youngster was hanging out on the breakwater rocks in the harbor of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. I’m currently using this image as the wallpaper background on my computer monitor!
Taken on 2019-05-30 00:00:00
San Cristobal Island, Galápagos
The Galápagos Flycatcher is a smaller version of the Myiarchus flycatchers (e.g. Great-crested Flycatcher, Ashy-throated Flycatcher, etc.) found in North America. It is pretty common, allegedly, but this is the first and only one that I have seen, on my fourth trip to these islands.
Taken on 2019-05-30 00:00:00
San Cristobal Island, Galápagos
A male Medium Ground-finch posing for a portrait. San Cristobal has several of the species of Darwin’s finches, but this is certainly one of the more common ones.
Taken on 2019-05-30 00:00:00
San Cristobal Island, Galápagos
One of the best places on this island is a remote beach near Cerro Brujo, a cinder cone on the north side. The water is gorgeous, and the birdlife is spectacular. Here a Brown Pelican dives into the bay, where it successfully caught a fish and avoided maiming the guy on the boat.
Thank you so much Albatrossity, do send us more when you can.
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