Goodbye Galapagos

Sadly, the 2014 Galapagos field season is over for me, and I’m now enroute back to Panama via Guayaquil.  In all, we've captured, banded and measured over 140 ground finches so far- a very promising start to the 2014 field season!

After so much talk of finches over the past 2 weeks, here are a few shots of some of the other astounding creatures that we’ve been able to get close to during our time on the islands.

A male marine iguana basking in the sun at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Their body temperatures drop so much while foraging for seaweed in the cold waters around the Galapagos that they need to return frequently to shore to warm themselves back up. After even a short swim there we usually felt the same way! Photo credit: D. Sharpe

Another sun-worshipper. Photo credit: L.F. De Leon

A heap of mostly female marine iguanas, Charles Darwin Research Station. Photo credit: D. Sharpe

A beautiful red male marine iguana, Charles Darwin Research Station. Photo credit: L.F De Leon

Sally lightfoot crabs, Charles Darwin Research Station. Photo credit: D. Sharpe

Sally lightfoot crabs, Charles Darwin Research Station. Photo credit: L.F De Leon

A baby sea lion rolling around in the sand, Loberia, San Cristobal Island. Photo credit: L.F De Leon

A female sea lion nursing her baby, Loberia, San Cristobal Island. Photo credit: D. Sharpe

A great blue heron drying its wings in the wind, Playa Manglecito, Isla San Cristobal. Photo credit: D. Sharpe

Parting view of Santa Cruz Island from the Itabaca Channel, enroute to Balta airport. Photo credit: D. Sharpe