Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez - Espanola Island

The next morning, we were in Gardner Bay - a beautiful white sand beach. The first ones we spotted were Espanola mockingbirds, a species endemic to the island, digging for food and water in the sand.

An oystercatcher also looking for food.

 
We also had our luck to see this swimming marine iguana! An extraordinary sight to see.

 
And of course, a sea lion striking a pose for pictures.

 
Gardner Bay is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling with playful sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, and colored fish. We also spotted colorful Sally lightfoot crabs.
 
In the afternoon, we landed in Punta Suarez, my favorite part of our cruise. Why? Because our eyes were full as we got to see a variety of wildlife in this part of Espanola Island: quite a big number of marine iguanas as well as different kinds of birds, and sea lions still. Probably because it is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos.

 
A quick fact: Male marine iguanas are usually green and red in color during mating season, thus, they are also called "Christmas iguanas", and they can only be seen in Espanola Island. Well, first off, marine iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

 
And these ones right here are lava lizards.

 
We also saw here a nesting place for waved albatross, nazca and blue-footed boobies. Waved albatross is considered the largest bird in the Galapagos, and their colony can only be found on Espanola Island.

 
We also spotted a brown pelican at the cliff and a Galapagos dove.

 
The trail was a tough one on slippery rocks, but it was well worth the effort in the end. We could spend hours just sitting and watching all the birds flying around us. It is one of the most unique experiences in the world, and the sight was so overwhelming. Photos cannot justify how magnificent it was to see these different kinds of native birds flying around you.