Valentines Day

The walk on Santiago Island yesterday was amazing. The island last had a volcanic eruption just over 100 years ago and the lava was in fantastic patterns like rope or folds of fine material, spirals, swirls and sheets. Very little in the way of plant life.
Today we have been on Genovesa Island. We took the panga to a dry landing onto rocks, up some steep steps to the top at the cliffs to see clouds of petrels flying. Our search was for short-eared owls and we saw 2 hunting before we were ourselves being observed by one in a tree right behind us! Another owl came and they fought - the first one flying off and the second allowed us to walk past within a foot of him, totally disinterested. Later We went snorkelling and a sealion and a fur seal swam alongside me with a turtle below and later a white-tipped reef shark. After lunch I went out in the kayak and a Galapagos shark swam below me. On our afternoon walk we saw great frigatebirds with their bright red throat pouches, lots of boobies and cactus finches. I have never known wildlife so unafraid of human presence. Also saw an octopus in a tide pool.