Galapagos: South Plaza

On the next morning, May 12th, the Islander was anchored off South Plaza, a small (30 acre) satellite islet of Santa Cruz.

Our first order of business was a pre-breakfast hike. South Plaza hosts a large number of sea lions, and several were monopolizing the small dock,

so we landed on a slab of rocky shore.

We split into three groups, each led by one of our naturalists. The first section of the walk was up the gradual incline to the island's spine, or horizon.

Land iguanas were easy to find.

At the top we discovered sheer cliffs and the swarms of birds that congregated there.

There were frigate birds,

swallow-tailed gulls,

and red-billed tropic birds. Our friend Rick was fascinated with the tropic birds, and kept firing away to catch the elusive great photograph. He succeeded.

More than once!

Hovering?

There were also blue-footed boobies and pelicans.

At the foot of the cliffs, other creatures abounded.

South Plaza is narrow. The low-growing succulent plants are bright green during the rainy season and turn color in the dry season. 

The land iguanas eke out a living, munching on the succulents,

but their favorite treat is the flowers of the cacti. They will wait patiently underneath a cactus for a bloom to fall.

There is a cactus nursery, an effort to recover from the depredations of goats grazing here. Cacti would be eaten while still young, and soon only the older, taller, tougher cacti remained.

The goats were removed from South Plaza in 1961, but the cactus seedlings now need protection from the land iguanas until they grow tall enough to escape the lizards' reach. The basins collect water and direct it to the seedlings, and the screens protect against iguanas and any other herbivores. Or clumsy tourists.

In this picture you can see our three groups scattered across the islet (click on the image to enlarge).

On our return jaunt we were graced with an posing striated heron.

A yellow warbler was talking to us.

An uncommon treat near the end of the morning was the sighting of a hybrid iguana -- offspring of a marine iguana and a land iguana. Sadly, these hybrids are shunned by both sides of the family.

I was ready for breakfast when we returned to the ship. Afterwards it was time for swimming and diving off the ship. I didn't indulge -- maybe next time -- but did take some photos from the top deck. Here, everybody is awaiting the next diver.

A zodiac driver kept an eye out for tired swimmers. Note the heavy rope netting on the front and snout of the zodiac, protecting it during rocky landings.

The Islander's Video Chronicler, Eric, was recording the event.

Our friend Rick was diving incessantly, trying to perfect his classic technique.

Some chose to jump in straight as a nail.

And some preferred the cannonball.

Some splashes were awarded a score of 10 by the judges.

After a while the zodiac driver saw that it was OK to relax, but was still on call.

Later Rick spotted this frigate bird resting on one of the ship's antennas. It was a perch with a view.

Before lunch Dr. Carmen Claassens of Darwin Animal Doctors gave a presentation of their work providing veterinary care in the Galapagos. It's not an easy job.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the nearby island of Santa Fé for more snorkeling and hiking.