S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com 153 South America / Galapagos Fernandina An active volcano with rugged slopes, unusual lava formations and a huge population of Land Iguanas. There are also sealions, Marine Iguanas, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants. Isabela By far the largest island and home to some 6,000 Galapagos Tortoises around the volcanic slopes. There is an interesting uplifted coral reef and the brackish lagoons host egrets, flamingos and White-cheeked Pintails. South American Fur Seals are common around the coastline as are Galapagos Penguins and iguanas. Santiago Lava Lizards are common here and the island is good for birds such as Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Mockingbird and Galapagos Hawk. Land Iguanas, Sally Lighfoot Crabs, sealions and South American Fur Seals may also be seen. Genovesa Breeding grounds for the South American Fur Seal and sealions. The cliffs are home to Galapagos, and Madeiran Storm-petrel, Audubon’s Shearwater and Redbilled Tropicbird. Look out for Lava Gulls too, the rarest gull in the world! Hammerhead Sharks also cruise along the coastline. Bartolomé This small island famous for Pinnacle Rock, is home to Galapagos Penguins. Turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks may also accompany you while snorkelling here. Seymour This low flat island supports the largest colony of Magnificent Frigatebrids in the Galapagos archipelago,while North Seymour is home to Blue-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, sealions and Marine Iguanas. Santa Cruz Its rocky coastline and maze of mangrove-lined inlets is good for sea turtles, sharks and rays. It is also home to a good population of tortoises, Land, and Marine Iguanas and birds - there are eight species of finches here! This is the home of the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Giant Tortoise breeding centre. Floreana Densely studded with volcanic cones and relatively luxuriant. There are nesting areas for tropicbirds, shearwaters and noddies on the island, a good lagoon for flamingos and several sealion colonies. The submerged volcanic crater of Devil’s Crown provides one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos. San Cristóbal Home to frigatebirds, Blue-footed Boobies and sealions, this island was the first that Charles Darwin set foot on in September 1835 Española Magnificent seabird colonies include Blue-footed, and Masked Boobies and Swallow-tailed Gulls. This is also the breeding site for Waved Albatross (although the colonies are deserted from January to March). ‘ ’ Mark Carwardine Author, Photographer & Journalist I spend 6 to 8 months of the year travelling and, to be honest, much of it is a blur. But I'll never stop raving and reminiscing about my Wildlife Worldwide trip to the Galapagos Islands. There was one particular day when we hiked to one of the finest viewpoints in the archipelago, then transferred to a nearby beach and snorkelled with some Galapagos penguins before paddling with a friendly group of juvenile white-tipped reef sharks - all before breakfast. It doesn't get much better than that. Masked Boobies Marine Iguana

Highlights January • On Española the adult Marine Iguanas become brightly coloured. • Green Sea Turtles arrive to the beaches to lay their eggs. • Land Iguanas begin their reproductive cycles on Isabela. • The water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June - it is an ideal time for snorkelling. • The rainy season begins and the land birds start nesting. February • Greater Flamingoes begin nesting on Floreana. • Beginning of the Black-tailed Pintails breeding season. • Nazca Boobies on Española are at the end of their nesting season. • Marine Iguanas begin nesting on Santa Cruz. • The water temperature reaches 25°c and remains constant until April. • The nesting season of the Galapagos Dove reaches its peak. March • The rainy season reaches its peak (but it doesn’t rain everyday). The rains are sporadic and tropical the sun is intense and the air temperature can reach up to 30°c. • Marine Iguanas nest on Fernandina. • March 21st, the beginning of the summer equinox, signals the arrival of the first Waved Albatross to Española. April • Arrival en-masse of Waved Albatrosses to Española for the start of their courtship. • End of the hatching season of the Giant Tortoises. • The eggs of Green Sea Turtles begin to hatch. • Eggs of Land Iguanas hatch on Isabela. • The rains have ended but the islands are still green. • Good visibility in the water for snorkellers. May • North Seymour's Blue-footed Boobies begin their courtship. • Green Sea Turtles are still hatching on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, and Puerto Egas. • Most of the Marine Iguanas eggs hatch from their nests on Santa Cruz. • The Waved Albatross on Española begin laying their eggs. • Ban-rumped Storm Petrels begin their first nesting period. June • Beginning of the cold season. • Giant Tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places. • Beginning of the Giant Tortoises nesting season. • The south-east trade winds return making currents stronger. • Southern migrants have begun their journey towards the north. Galapagos is an important landfall for such birds. Some species of cetaceans also follow this pattern of migration. • Some groups of Humpback Whales that migrate up to equatorial latitudes along the coast of Ecuador reach the Galapagos. 154 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Galapagos coastline Galapagos Sealion Giant Tortoise Green Sea Turtle Waved Albatross