The Galapagos Islands & Ecuador

During spring break in March, I took a class trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. All pictures were taken with a Canon 7D with a 75-300mm lens. While on this trip, we saw many species that are endemic to the island, which means they are found no where else in the world except here. These are also the islands that Charles Darwin visited and he realized that there was not just one species of finch but many species that had diverged from one species long ago.

Two male magnificent frigate birds that are fighting over a marine iguana egg.  

Two marine iguanas bathing in the sun together.

 A Galapagos hawk soaring in the air.

A blue-footed booby perched on a rock. Approximately one half of all breeding pairs nest on the Galapagos Islands.

A bird that walks on the water, the Elliot's storm petrel.

The marine iguana is an iguana only found on the Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin was actually revolted by their appearance.

A male flightless cormorant retrieves seaweed for the female to make a nest on the ground. They are also native to the islands and they are unique because they have lost the ability to fly because the lack of predators on the island.

 A juvenile sea lion that's being playful or doesn't want its picture taken.

A sunrise with the island of Baltra in view.

Two Galapagos penguins being playful. These are also endemic to the islands.