Bird tour, San Cristobal

I booked a tour to go look for the red footed boobies which can only be seen on two islands in the Galapagos. San Cristobal is one of them. It was an amazing day.

Dolphins

As we made our way to kicker rock, we spotted a pod of dolphins which swam and frolicked with our boat.

Kicker rock or sleepy lion (Leo dormido)

This is actually a formation that is part of San Cristobal and not a separate island.

Sea lion pup resting out of the water. Because of his light color, he has been out of the water for 5 hours.

Nasco boobie to the left and Blue footed boobie is on the right.

Frigate bird. They try to steal food from the boobies. The boobies are expert divers and the frigates are not. They will also try to get little sea iguanas.

Snorkeling

For the record, I did not snorkel. I had cataract surgery a few weeks ago and being in water is not allowed for 3 months. Though I did still brinh my own snorkel and mask, it is not worth the risk. I did bring my 360 camera which the naturalist took for me. For this time of year, the water was actually pretty clear and many of the must-see animals put on a show.

Punta Pitt

This is a part of San Cristobal island that you cannot get to any other way except by boat. Here you can find the red footed booby. It was a nice 2 km hike and beautiful as only so many tours can be here at a time.

Here are some interesting facts about the Nazca, Red-footed, and Blue-footed boobies:

Nazca Booby

These birds have a white body with black-tipped wings and tail with a distinctive black mask around their eyes. They feed on fish and squid caught by diving from significant heights. They have serious sibling rivalry, where usually only one chick survives. They nest on the ground in large colonies and have a courtship dance that includes bill clapping.

Red-footed Booby

They have two variations: White or brown body with brown being more common. They have bright red feet and a blue beak and face. They also feed on fish and squid in the same manner and fly fast. They nest in trees, unlike other boobies that nest on the ground. They only lay one egg. They have a courtship ritual of head shaking and giving sticks.

This juvenile red footed booby landed on our boat before we were at the beach.

Blue-footed Booby

They have bright blue feet that are part of their mating ritual. The brighter the blue shoes they are healthy and they attract more mates. They have a high stepping dance that shows off their feet. They have a brownish body and a pale blue beak. They catch sardines and anchovies by plunge-diving. They nest on the ground, and lay two or three eggs. They spread guano in a circle so the egg and the baby chicks blend in.