Thursday 7 April 2016

F IS FOR FLIGHTLESS CORMORANT : A-Z Challenge

Welcome to Day 6 of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is:


'Wildlife Encounters'

The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador are chock-full of wonderful wildlife, much of which is endemic to these beautiful islands. The Flightless Cormorant is one such creature.




It has to be said that these birds are not particularly attractive but the interesting thing about them is that they are the only cormorant in the world to have lost the ability to fly.

With their webbed feet and powerful legs, these cormorants are fantastic at catching prey underwater. It is strange that their feathers haven’t evolved to become waterproof and they are obliged to sit with their stubby little wings outstretched to dry after a hunting session.

These birds are only found on two islands in the Galapagos. Our guide asked us to keep our distance from them, for obvious reasons. 

Sadly my visit to the Galapagos was before I started travel writing and my camera wasn’t up to much. Perhaps that’s a good enough excuse to re-visit one of the most incredible places I have ever visited on this planet.






See you tomorrow - I’m going to head back east. Can you guess where and what the next animal will be?



If you want to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click HERE



33 comments:

  1. Oooo. Galapagos. I want to visit soon.
    Trying to guess where you're going to next. What's east of these islands? Hmmm....

    Aneeta from
    How to Tell a Great Story

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  2. Hi, Aneeta, I can highly recommend the Galapagos as a destination for wonderful, unique wildlife. :)

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  3. I'm utterly fascinated with your theme. And you've been to the Galapagos Islands! How wonderful. I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on your posts this month. :D
    [@samantha_rjsdr] from
    Whimsical Compass

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  4. Hi Samantha, thanks for visiting my blog and hope you'll enjoy more of my wildlife encounters. :)

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  5. Gosh!! You're really taking us on a wild goose chase!! G for goose? No... g for giraffe in Africa! ;-)
    AJ at Ouch My Back Hurts

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    1. Yes, I thought I'd zip you over to the Pacific this time. As for how far east I'm travelling tomorrow...

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    2. Gotcha!! I made it to the African plains for a bit of giraffe spotting with you! ;-)

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  6. I like to watch all animal documentaries on tv about Galapagos island, I think G would be for goat?

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  7. So do I, Zeljka. The Galapagos are probably in my top five favourite destinations.

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  8. To walk in Darwin's footsteps on Galapagos island must have been exciting. Poor birds. Yet they thrive despite their handicaps -- maybe that is the lesson the Great Mystery wanted us to learn from them. :-)

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    1. Roland, there is something very special about these islands and the creatures that live there. My only fear is that tourism is having a negative impact - yet it is tourists that help their economy. It's a conundrum.

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  9. Somewhere else to add to ever growing list! WE seem to have an increasing number of cormorants where I live on the Sussex coast - flight type ones! I think they look amazing when they perch with their wings outstretched.

    Keith's Ramblings : My short story has 3 obscure F's

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    1. They're strange looking birds aren't they, Keith? I see them here in West Cork too and they're much more robust than their Galapagos cousins.

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  10. I would love to visit Galapagos Islands so I definitely encourage going back! I'm not doing so good at guessing... gorilla?

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  11. You are so lucky to have visited these islands. These birds need to develop waterproof wings. you still got some great shots. How far east?? I am not going to guess:)

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    1. Thanks, Birgit. I had wanted to visit for many years - but it was worth the wait.
      p.s. I'm not going to tell you exactly how far east... but pretty far. :)

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  12. I, too, am going to guess gorilla. We shall see!

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    1. I hope you won't be disappointed, Silver Fox!

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  13. One of the places I would SO love to visit! I didn't know there WAS a flightless cormorant... hmmm, for the letter G? A gorilla? Gnu? Grizzly bear? Giant anteater?

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    1. You're off course with Grizzly, Liz - they would be north east. :)

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  14. I would love to visit the Galapagos Islands. Such an amazing place.

    @WeekendsInMaine
    Weekends In Maine

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    1. It is an amazing place, Karen - I'd love to return.

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  15. I'm so jealous that you got to visit here! It looks like a wonderful spot with so much diversity in its wildlife.
    Trisha Faye - www.scooterstale.wordpress.com

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    1. Hi, Trisha - thanks for visiting my blog. The Galapagos have some unique wildlife which is what makes it so special.

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  16. Amazing place, and the second time I've visited a post about Ecuador! I hope you get a chance to go back and show us some more lovely pictures!

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  17. Giraffes are so elegant and look so gentle. Beautiful picture.

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  18. I absolutely loved the Galapagos Islands. Definitely worth a repeat trip to get more pictures ;)

    It was the sea lions that really grabbed my attention on our trip, but I remember seeing the cormorants too :)

    Tracy (Black Boots, Long Legs)

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    1. The Galapagos sea lions are brilliant, aren't they?

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Many thanks for commenting. I appreciate your feedback.