exploring the lava beach
a pair of sleeping sea lion beauties
this iguana is toast (actually lunch)
a Sea Turtle checks us out
a pair of Marine Iguanas watch a crab pass by
Fernandina

Fernandina is the youngest and most volcanically active island of the Galapagos, with lava flows as recent as April 2009, just two months before our visit.

We explored the beach at Punta Espinosa, with large black barren lava fields, but with an amazing amount of wildlife.

The signature species here is the Flightless Cormorant, but we ran also into a sea turtle, an octopus, many sea lions, scores of Marine Iguanas and of course the colorful and ever-present Sally Lightfoot crabs.

We witnessed the sad demise of a young iguana in the sharp and deadly claws of a hungry Galapagos Hawk.

For sure this was one of the best and most impressive shore excursions.

website059060.jpg website059059.jpg website059058.jpg website059057.jpg website059056.jpg website059055.jpg website059054.jpg website059053.jpg website059052.jpg website059051.jpg website059050.jpg website059049.jpg website059048.jpg website059047.jpg website059046.jpg website059045.jpg website059003.gif website059043.gif website059042.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
end
website059004.gif website059002.gif
fresh lava at Punta Espinoza
website059003.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
a cluster of Marine Iguanas warming in the sun
surrounded by Sally Lightfoot Crabs
3
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
can you spot the octopus?
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
A Ruddy Turnstone checks out the waterline for food
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
a Whimbrel wader
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
Lava Cacti in the foreground, a white beach and the Celebrity Xpedition in the background make a perfect picture
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
a male sea lion returns from a refreshing dip
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
the Flightless Cormorant
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
back to the ship
website059004.gif website059003.gif website059002.gif
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
website059001.gif