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.

And you thought YOU have a bad complexion

                  Either his hand's on backwards or that's not really a thumb....

Final approach

                          Gear down, flaps down (look closely), field in sight, cleared to land!

Rubber boots allow masquerading as Blue-footed Boobies

Hi, there! We're from Blaine! That's in America! So are we when we're not traveling.

Mt. Something-or-Other Awaits

      At dawn, our objective lay before us, silhouetted by the dawn’s early light. 396 steps, give or take.

"I hope this class is about over.....we're all dying here."

He is said to be part Leprechaun and the rest Crocodile Dundee. His artistic production is constant; he always carries a camera and with it he gets people to do amazing things.

This Mockingbird is collecting nesting material. One heavenly thing about these islands is that since it's always spring, mating season lasts all year. Not totally sure of the ID here so am checking it w/ Pepe.

Flycatcher moving on

One of the nine Australian photographers on our boat in the Galapagos said that perched birds are boring. "It's just a bird on a stick," he said. So here's the earliest moment in this Flycatcher's decision to move on, as he's just letting go and just beginning to raise his wings. He's not on the stick but in the air yet, either. 

David Attenborough in Galapagos

Watch the ABC1 special on Galapagos this Sunday evening at 7.30pm.

Galapagos leaks

The first feature of an underwater camera is that it should keep the water on the outside. It shouldn't leak. (But many do)

We bought a Panasonic Lumix FT4 and so far ... no leaks.

I've also discovered a few other tricks in taking shots underwater. You need to be close to the subject, you need to be close to the surface and a sunny day helps.

My first venture underwater was hopeless. In 30 minutes I took 40 shots and not one was sharp or usable. On my second attempt I got 2 or 3 usable shots.

It was only during the review session with the Aussies that I realised how many sharks were swimming with us. If I had have known that, there is now way I would have been in the water. Short sight does have a few advantages!

Underwater Disguise

I've been taking photographs for more than half a century but underwater photography was brand new to me.

First, you have to learn how to stay alive in the water, breathe through a plastic hose and not panic when large black things cruise past you.

Then you have to learn where all the buttons and knobs are on your camera with reduced visibility.

But the strangest thing was that I hardly recognized anyone under the water. My first priority was to separate the fish from the humans.

Iguana breakfast

When the Aussies got together for their final show and tell in Buenos Aires last night EVERY one of us had a shot of an iguana munching on a yellow flower. So I thought I'd be the first to get a pic up. Great subjects to photograph.

Welcome to Galapagos

Welcome to our Galapagos blog.

When you put nine Aussies, seven Americans and a couple from 'The Olde Country' together in nature's wonderland you are bound to have fun.

When I travelled with Peter Lambert to Antarctica two years ago I felt like it was the closest thing to visiting another planet. I experienced the same sensation in Galapagos; a land where time stands still;  where animals show no fear of humans; swimming and walking beside we humans.

Into this magical formula add eighteen people with a zest for life and adventure. It was just the right number; we all got to know each other, share meals and stories. We ate, drank and laughed together. I even learned a few words in Texan.

Can I apologise again to all the people I bumped, swamped and mangled while snorkelling. I can assure you it was unintentional. My peripheral vision ain't quite what it used to be.

Please add photos and stories, thoughts and views. Photos on their own always look a little lonely so please combine words and pics.