Guided Missile

I just loved watching these Bluefooted Boobies diving headlong into the water. I believe they can dive to about 15 metres below the surface.

What you did and where you did it

 

Jackie contemplating the home of Buster the Bluefooted Booby

            This chart, posted in the Flamingo's ward room, shows our route through the islands.

Boats in the Bay

                                 Sisterships (Letty, r, & Flamingo I) in the bay on Plaza Island behind
                             the cactus forest.

Espanola

Espanola promised to be one of the more unforgettable of the Galapagos Islands and we weren't disappointed.

From a photographic perspective being able to get very close to large, unique, slow-moving wildlife is really making it easy. Add to this that the animals are in their natural habitat. Even people using simple compact cameras could get great shots of much of the wildlife.

The blue-footed booby was a favourite with everyone. They posed and some performed their mating jig, lifting one foot after another to impress their partner.

But when the Blue footed booby goes hunting for fish, that's a different story. The somewhat clumsy looking bird is transformed into a lethal. high-speed, jet fighter. Their bodies elongate and they descend absolutely vertically. Capturing that with your camera is an entirely different challenge.
Last night I watched with awe the Attenborough program on Galapagos. Boatloads of highly sophisticated photographic equipment and specialised underwater gear. Teams of photographers and access to all areas in the Galapagos.
What I did notice was the trajectory of the Blue Footed Booby AFTER it enters the water. They become torpedoes under the water, penetrating up to 10-15 feet before capturing their prey. An amazing bird, and blue feet to boot!
wildheart 

Hi Everyone

I was just flicking through my pics and came across this one! I thought you might be interested esp Jackie. The shark is real and was one of 2 that circled Flamingo 1 whilst most were snorkeling at Bartolome.

           Our ship was a good one and our weather was so fine it reminded me of Coleridge - except such sunny calm weather wasn't exactly what he wanted:
            

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.