Genovesa - Prince Philip's Steps

Friday, 31 August 2018
Galapagos Day 7

Genovesa is one of three islands in the Galapagos north of the Equator. We anchored in Darwin Bay (although Darwin never visited Genovesa), which is a submerged caldera. The middle of the caldera is deep with steep sides, so we had to anchor quite close to the shoreline where the water is shallower.

Looking back at the entrance to Darwin Bay on Genovesa.

When it comes to birds, the best was saved for last. Today we had two spectacular bird walks from Darwin Bay.

The first one was a trip up the Prince Philip Steps to the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The steps are mostly natural stones filling a crevice in the cliff. They have been improved with a handrail and some concrete work.

While we waited for other Zodiacs to disembark, we were able to see a few Galapagos fur seals sleeping on the rocks.  Largely nocturnal, they sleep most of the day.

Once the top of the steps are reached, the top is flat, but crossed with deep ravines and collapsed lava tubes, which make great nesting sites for storm petrels and other seabirds.

The top of the bluff on the ocean side of the island, with hundreds of sea birds (mostly storm petrels) in the air.

Looking at the short-eared owl and other birds.

We saw a short-eared owl from a distance. They are well-camouflaged and difficult to see against the rocky background. 

Between the steps and the ocean bluff is a palo santo shrub forest filled with nesting frigatebirds (above) and boobies.

A juvenile frigatebird well on its way to adult plumage.

A younger juvenile frigate bird. The birds have no predators and are not at all disturbed by humans walking through their nesting grounds.

Nazca booby.

Blue-footed booby.

Red-footed boobies sit and nest in trees, even though they have webbed feet. I loved the contrast between their blue beaks and red feet.

Another red-footed booby.