Yesterday after breakfast, Pablo (our host father) took us on our first beach walk at La Loberia (Sea Lion Beach). After a about a half mile walk from our house to the beach along a lonely, nicely paved road among lots of small trees with yellow flowers and many cute lava lizzards scurrying along the path, we arrived at the beach. Soon we were at the beach, and began to see various marine iguanas and Galápagos sea lions. More and more of each as we went on the path of sand that became a path of large lava rocks, jumping from one to another. Once we got to the part of the path that was only rocks, it was designated by white poles sticking up above where the rocks were. I took along my handy dandy animal guide and marked each one that we saw. There were even a few that I couldn't find (my guide is not totally comprehensive). Many of these animals are endemic (found only in) to the Galapagos. Here is what I was able to identify:
- Blue Footed Booby
- Swallow Tailed Gull
- Brown Pelican
- Common Frigatebird
- Small Ground Finch
- Small Tree Finch
- Medium Tree Finch
- Galapagos Dove
- Sally Lightfoot Crab
- Terrestrial Hermit Crab
- San Critobal Lava Lizard
- Galapagos Lava Lizard
- Marine Iguana
- Hawksbill Turtle
- Galapagos Sea Lion
- Carpenter Bee
It was the most amazing hike I've ever taken. Magdalena and Luisa have been busily working to add the pictures from our 4-5 hour hike. We thought we applied sun screen on well, but our burns said otherwise. The marine iguanas blend in so well with the volcanic rocks that it's easy to accidently step on one if you're not looking closely. In the evening I walked down to the malacon and added the Spotted Sandpiper to my list.
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