For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.
See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.
Galapagos Penguins were one of the highlights of the tour. This pair greeted us on the beach at Isabela Island. Photograph by participant Barry Tillman.
The Galapagos Islands are without doubt a dream destination for anybody interested in the theory of evolution, and seeing many of the organisms that inspired Charles Darwin is a thrill of a lifetime! Our well-designed itinerary was as complete as it could possibly have been and got us to many of the most interesting visitor points on the islands. This meant that we we had the chance of seeing all of the accessible endemic bird species... and we did! What really makes all of this so magnificent in the end though is the sheer beauty of the islands and how we were able to get to so many fabulous sites - many quite isolated, and all very distinct - on our own private catamaran!
The birding, and other natural history moments, were many, but here a some that I thought deserved special mention: American Flamingos a couple of times, but that close bird on our first day on Santa Cruz was particularly exciting; those Paint-billed Crakes on Floreana, even bathing in the tortoise pond; that cooperative Galapagos Rail that sneaked in on Santa Cruz for full body shots; all of those great seabirds, many on their nesting grounds, right at our feet; a pair of entertaining Galapagos Penguins on Isabela only feet away as we boarded the panga; Flightless Cormorants in full pair-bonding display; a couple of pairs of "Little" Vermilion Flycatcher in the highlands of Isabela for close views; Galapagos Martins zooming around the boat at close range; and all of those diverse finches that somehow find a way to eke out a living under tough conditions. Finally, the Giant Tortoises living wild on Santa Cruz were just amazing!
The Nemo III was a wonderful and comfortable home for our week in the archipelago and our naturalist guide, Jairo, and attentive boat crew treated us like royalty... thanks, guys! But what really sent the trip over the top were the wonderful participants, and sharing the Galapagos with you after all of these years was a genuine treat. Enjoy the triplist that follows, and I hope to see all of you out in the field again in some far-flung location... good birding!
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
This beautiful Galapagos Hawk posed nicely for us. We had great looks at these endemic predators on several islands. Photo by participant Paul Kittle.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL (GALAPAGOS) (Anas bahamensis galapagensis)
Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
AMERICAN FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
GALAPAGOS DOVE (Zenaida galapagoensis)
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani) [I]
DARK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus melacoryphus)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
SPARKLING VIOLETEAR (Colibri coruscans)
BLACK-TAILED TRAINBEARER (Lesbia victoriae)
WESTERN EMERALD (Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
PAINT-BILLED CRAKE (Mustelirallus erythrops)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
Woodpecker Finches are found on several islands, including Isabela, where we saw this parent feeding a begging fledgling. Photo by participant Barry Tillman.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
GALAPAGOS RAIL (Laterallus spilonota)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus palliatus galapagensis)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus) [b]
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
WHIMBREL (HUDSONIAN) (Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus) [b]
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) [b]
WANDERING TATTLER (Tringa incana) [b]
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
SWALLOW-TAILED GULL (Creagrus furcatus)
LAVA GULL (Leucophaeus fuliginosus)
BROWN NODDY (Anous stolidus galapagensis)
Participant Paul Kittle got this nice image of one of the Gray Warbler-Finches we saw.
Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds)
RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD (Phaethon aethereus mesonauta)
Spheniscidae (Penguins)
GALAPAGOS PENGUIN (Spheniscus mendiculus)
Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
WAVED ALBATROSS (Phoebastria irrorata)
Oceanitidae (Southern Storm-Petrels)
ELLIOT'S STORM-PETREL (Oceanites gracilis galapagoensis)
Hydrobatidae (Northern Storm-Petrels)
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma castro)
WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma tethys tethys)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
GALAPAGOS PETREL (Pterodroma phaeopygia)
GALAPAGOS SHEARWATER (Puffinus subalaris)
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens)
GREAT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata minor ridgwayi)
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NAZCA BOOBY (Sula granti)
Visiting the nesting colony of Waved Albatross is always special. We were able to get up close to them as they brooded their eggs and interacted with each other. Photo by participant Paul Kittle.
BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY (Sula nebouxii excisa)
RED-FOOTED BOOBY (EASTERN PACIFIC) (Sula sula websteri)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
FLIGHTLESS CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax harrisi)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
BROWN PELICAN (GALAPAGPOS) (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (BLUE FORM) (Ardea herodias cognata)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
STRIATED HERON (GALAPAGOS) (Butorides striata sundevalli)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (GALAPAGOS) (Nyctanassa violacea pauper)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GALAPAGOS HAWK (Buteo galapagoensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (GALAPAGOS) (Tyto alba punctatissima)
The Swallow-tailed Gull is one of the prettiest of its family. While they can be found in the waters offshore from Colombia to central Chile, they breed almost exclusively on the Galapagos. Photo by participant Barry Tillman.
Strigidae (Owls)
SHORT-EARED OWL (GALAPAGOS) (Asio flammeus galapagoensis)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum) [*]
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (OBSCURUS GROUP) (Pyrocephalus rubinus piurae)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (GALAPAGOS) (Pyrocephalus rubinus nanus)
GALAPAGOS FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus magnirostris)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea)
GALAPAGOS MARTIN (Progne modesta)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
GREAT THRUSH (Turdus fuscater)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GALAPAGOS MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus parvulus)
The Large Ground-Finch has a massive bill that we saw in action, as this individual was cracking seeds when we found it. Photo by participant Paul Kittle.
FLOREANA MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus trifasciatus)
ESPANOLA MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus macdonaldi)
SAN CRISTOBAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus melanotis)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
GOLDEN-RUMPED EUPHONIA (Euphonia cyanocephala) [*]
HOODED SISKIN (Spinus magellanicus)
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
YELLOW WARBLER (GALAPAGOS) (Setophaga petechia aureola)
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus) [*]
SCRUB TANAGER (Tangara vitriolina)
GREEN WARBLER-FINCH (Certhidea olivacea)
GRAY WARBLER-FINCH (Certhidea fusca mentalis)
Although the Blue-footed Booby seems to get all the attention, they were scarce as nesters this year. Red-footed Boobies were in abundance, however, and we had some great views of adults at their nests with some pretty large chicks! Photo by participant Barry Tillman.
GRAY WARBLER-FINCH (Certhidea fusca luteola)
GRAY WARBLER-FINCH (Certhidea fusca cinerascens)
VEGETARIAN FINCH (Platyspiza crassirostris)
WOODPECKER FINCH (PALLIDUS/PRODUCTUS) (Camarhynchus pallidus pallidus)
WOODPECKER FINCH (PALLIDUS/PRODUCTUS) (Camarhynchus pallidus productus)
WOODPECKER FINCH (STRIATIPECTA) (Camarhynchus pallidus striatipecta)
LARGE TREE-FINCH (Camarhynchus psittacula psittacula)
MEDIUM TREE-FINCH (Camarhynchus pauper)
SMALL TREE-FINCH (Camarhynchus parvulus parvulus)
SMALL TREE-FINCH (Camarhynchus parvulus salvini)
SMALL GROUND-FINCH (Geospiza fuliginosa)
The Espanola Mockingbird is endemic to that island, and is the curious one that likes to investigate visitors and their possessions. This one seems to be checking out the photographer! Photo by participant Paul Kittle.
LARGE GROUND-FINCH (Geospiza magnirostris)
GENOVESA GROUND-FINCH (Geospiza acutirostris)
COMMON CACTUS-FINCH (Geospiza scandens intermedia)
MEDIUM GROUND-FINCH (Geospiza fortis)
ESPANOLA GROUND-FINCH (Geospiza conirostris)
GENOVESA CACTUS-FINCH (Geospiza propinqua propinqua)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
"GALAPAGOS" SEA LION (Zalophus californianus wollebacki)
GALAPAGOS FUR SEAL (Arctocephalus galapagoensis)
Herps
MARINE IGUANA (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Marine Iguanas like these big boys tend to be very confident that they rule the beach, making visitors like us step over and around them as they sunbathe. We were excited to see them sunning, but we also got to watch some of them grazing on algae at Punta Espinosa. Photo by participant Barry Tillman.
LAND IGUANA (Conolophus subcristatus)
SANTA FE LAND IGUANA (Conolophus pallidus)
GALAPAGOS LEAF-TOED GECKO (Phyllodactylus galapagoensis)
GALAPAGOS LAVA LIZARD (Microlophus albemarlensis)
ESPANOLA LAVA LIZARD (Microlophus delanonis)
FLOREANA LAVA LIZARD (Microlophus grayi)
SAN CRISTOBAL LAVA LIZARD (Microlophus bivattatus)
GALAPAGOS RACER (Alsophis biseralis)
GALAPAGOS (GIANT) TORTOISE (Geochelone elephantopus)
Participant Paul Kittle got this video of a Galapagos Tortoise lumbering along. These amazing creatures are being brought back from extinction through a breeding program, but we also saw some of the last truly wild tortoises on Santa Cruz Island.
GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)
It wasn't just about the birds and mammals, so here are some of the other fascinating creatures that we saw over the course of our week cruising the islands:
Spotted Eagle Ray
Galapagos Shark
Hammerhead Shark
Golden Ray
Modula Ray
Mexican Hogfish
Blue-chin Parrotfish
Black-striped Salema
Chocolate-chip Starfish
Green Sea Urchin
Sea Cucumber
Manta Ray
White-tipped Reef-Shark
Moorish Idol
Surgeon Fish
King Angelfish
Tiger Snake Eel
Diamond Stingray
Sergeant Major Fish
Guineafowl Puffer
Giant Damselfish
Hermit Crab
Ghost Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Thanks to Paul, we have a very strong, likely identification of our sea skaters on Fernandina Island with the name "Halobates robustus".
Totals for the tour: 83 bird taxa and 3 mammal taxa