Española Island
What a glorious day! Dawn was gray with garua and we disembarked in the damp on a beach where sea lions still snoozed, iguanas were basking and beginning to head for the ocean to feed, and endemic Hood mockingbirds hopped around curiously pecking at anything that might just be edible. We found the last few waved albatross chicks, by now losing their down and preparing soon to fly away to spend many months on the Humboldt Current off the coast of Peru. Several adult albatross sailed overhead along with dozens of boobies, tropic birds and shearwaters. A hawk that we have been watching for a month was still incubating.
In the afternoon we enjoyed snorkeling and outings in the glass bottom boat. But the fine white sand beach at Gardner Bay, which was alive with sea lions, was the highlight of our fabulous day. Such a lovely pristine spot, and what a joy it was to be ignored and accepted by the sea lions! Two small pups that were looking for their “Mom” and a meal, didn’t ignore us though. They crawled onto someone’s lap and sniffed at another’s face and rolled and tumbled and played in the sand. This afternoon’s weather and beach were so incredibly inviting that several of the Polaris officers and crew (see today’s photo) joined us to enjoy the sun, the sand and the frolicking sea lions.
What a glorious day! Dawn was gray with garua and we disembarked in the damp on a beach where sea lions still snoozed, iguanas were basking and beginning to head for the ocean to feed, and endemic Hood mockingbirds hopped around curiously pecking at anything that might just be edible. We found the last few waved albatross chicks, by now losing their down and preparing soon to fly away to spend many months on the Humboldt Current off the coast of Peru. Several adult albatross sailed overhead along with dozens of boobies, tropic birds and shearwaters. A hawk that we have been watching for a month was still incubating.
In the afternoon we enjoyed snorkeling and outings in the glass bottom boat. But the fine white sand beach at Gardner Bay, which was alive with sea lions, was the highlight of our fabulous day. Such a lovely pristine spot, and what a joy it was to be ignored and accepted by the sea lions! Two small pups that were looking for their “Mom” and a meal, didn’t ignore us though. They crawled onto someone’s lap and sniffed at another’s face and rolled and tumbled and played in the sand. This afternoon’s weather and beach were so incredibly inviting that several of the Polaris officers and crew (see today’s photo) joined us to enjoy the sun, the sand and the frolicking sea lions.
