Sep 1, 1998
Richard Polatty
Galapagos continues its recovery from El Niño. The weather is cool but still not quite seasonal. Garua is seen sporadically but only for a few minutes here and there. The southeast trades are very strong now with around 30 knot winds being generated at times. The water temperatures are much the same as they have been for the past few weeks. The central islands average around 72 to 74 F. and the west is around 68 F. Wetsuits are recommended!
The marine iguanas continue to die at Fernandina even though they seem to be fairing better elsewhere. The algal beds of Punta Espinoza still haven't returned to normal. The sea lions are also absent from Punta Espinoza. The cormorants seem to be doing nicely though. There are several groups of several pairs with appx 1 month old chicks. The penguins are locally gone and also quite scarce at Tagus Cove on Isabela.
Palo Santos are without leaves are over the island chain and the large amounts of abnormal vegetation are drying up and disappearing. The blue footed boobies are finding nesting spots in the clearings of North Seymour and are dancing at Española. There are many pairs that have 2 eggs already.All in all, there is still a great sense of rejuvenation in the islands. The weather is generally spectacular in that the air is cool like garua season but yet the skies are generally clear. Most seabirds are well into their breeding attempts and the sea lions are bouncing back. The seas are a bit choppy but actually quite calm considering the wind.
One can watch the physical process of cooling off by checking sources such as sea surface temperature maps provided by NOAA. Also look at the looped images mirrored on this site for the development of El Niño and La Nina.
For specific island reports:
August 23- Tower
water temp 73 F.
Playa - Lots of Great Frigate chicks of about 1 month
Only one displaying frigate male seen
Very strong southeast winds
Prince Phillip Steps
large numbers of Masked Boobies with 2 eggs but no chicks yet
water temp 73
August 24 - Tagus Cove, Isabela
water temp 67 degrees F.
one penguin,
no noddies
August 3- Punta Espinoza, Fernandina
Lots of dead iguanas - even worse than the weeks before - apparently they are still dying as there are no more rich algal beds
Flightless Cormorants are nesting (one pair). Interesting nest made of pencil urchins. Other pairs nearby have chicks about 3 weeks old
no penguins seen
August 25 - Puerto Egas, Santiago
Sea lions returning to beach (healthy bull and 10 females ) but still none at the traditional breading spot on the trail.
Fur seals apparently doing fine at the grottos
10 bottlenosed dolphins just 10 meters off shore
August 25- Bartolome
no penguins
water temp 73
August 26- North Seymour
Many magnificent Frigates displaying
Blue footed boobies courting and some with eggs
most of the viney vegetation has died back
still very few sea lions
August 26- South Plaza
very few sea lions compared to normal but those that are surviving seem healthy
Red Billed Tropicbirds nesting, Audubon shearwaters nesting
water temp 71.9
strong southeasterly winds
Most of the grasses are dying off with the sesuvium turning red again. Many cacti have fallen over.
The iguanas are still pretty spread out
August 27- Punta Cormorant
2 flamingos in the lagoon and very low water level
2 white cheeked pintails
Devils Crown temp 69.4
August 28- Punta Suárez, Hood
many blue foots displaying and some with 2 eggs
lots of Waved Albatross in the afternoon along with dancing- still big rafts
masked boobies courting but no eggs
warbler finches seem to be making a comeback
August 28- Gardner Bay
appx 140 sea lions on the beach
dark billed cuckoo seen
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