Trips

Swallow-tailed Gull at Punta Pitt

August 11, 2012 by Renato No Comments

This elusive, night-feeding, endemic bird of the Galapagos Islands is not easy to see. I have only seen it a couple of times; once flying above the city lights of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and once flying early morning past La Loberia Beach going away from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

This all changed on my last trip when, upon request of my clients, I organized a half day boat trip to Punta Pitt. We started at 6 am and headed north hugging the west side of the island. The trip took about 1.5 hours of mild waves and birds such as Nazca Bobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Galapagos Shearwater, and Elliots Storm-Petrel. As we approached Islote Pitt (Latitud: 0°42’12.03″S Longitud: 89°14’50.52″O) we could see many birds flying around this tiny island.

Islote Pitt

The feeling of having found a treasure came upon me as we quickly spotted the multiple Swallow-tailed Gulls, Red-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Great Frigatebirds, Tropic Birds, Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel, and Elliots Storm-Petrel. Now I share this tresure with you!

Swallow-tailed Gull

Juvenile Swallow-tailed Gull

Red-footed Booby

Red-footed Booby and White Morph

Nazca Booby

Great Frigatebird

Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel

Written by Renato

Renato was born in Quito, Ecuador and quickly flew to the USA to learn all about engineering and climbing company ladders. After getting his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota he worked in the Standard-American-Rat-Race-Company for fifteen years. After climbing the ladder to where he could no longer see the ground, he decided to jump off the ladder and migrate south like all normal birds do. To his surprise home did not look like it did when he left as a young fledgling; the towns were bigger, most of his friends had nests of their own, and the countryside was changed. Shocked by all the change he searched for a new life and a new wife. He stumbled across a vivacious young chick who would accompany him inside a volcanic crater to set up a love nest. So, after eight years of nesting inside the crater a new love for nature and birds has sprung a career in environmental conservation and birding tours. Finally this bird has come home to roost!