Early wake up call led to kayaking off Gardner Beach on Hood Island where we spotted several turtles mating on the surface of the water. The waves were coming from the north and that prevented us from getting close to shore, but it was still a pleasant experience before breakfast. As the sun got higher on the horizon, the clouds dissipated and we went snorkeling at Gardner Island. We found several young California sea lions eager to play with us and I was able to film them for the longest time. Few things are as fun to watch as young sea lions at play while snorkeling. After showering on board the National Geographic Islander we headed to Gardner Beach for a walk on pristine white sand where Hood mockingbirds were running about feeding on the flies that were to be found on top of the the sea lions. The sun was shining and the guests were delighted to experience being so close to the animals.
In the late afternoon we visited Punta Suarez on the western side of Hood Island. After a dry landing we saw several baby sea lions playfully bothering red marine iguanas. The red color of the iguanas is the result of sexual selection and now, without this attraction for red, they don’t succesfully reproduce.
The walk was challenging, but well worth it. Immidiatelly we saw red-billed tropic birds flying above us, swallow-tailed gulls, nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks, Hood lava lizzards, small ground finches, large cactus finches, warbler finches, yellow warblers, doves, frigate birds, yellow-crown herons, lava herons and waved albatrosses. We had to walk on eroded boulders and at one point saw the famous blowhole where a flying marine iguana was reported.
Another spectacular day in paradise comes to an end!
